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| Tory activists attack David Cameron on same-sex marriage | Tory activists attack David Cameron on same-sex marriage |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| David Cameron's support for same-sex marriage has made winning the general election "virtually impossible", Conservative activists have said. | David Cameron's support for same-sex marriage has made winning the general election "virtually impossible", Conservative activists have said. |
| In a letter to the PM, more than 30 past and present local party chairmen warned his backing for a change of law had led to voters switching to UKIP. | In a letter to the PM, more than 30 past and present local party chairmen warned his backing for a change of law had led to voters switching to UKIP. |
| But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it was an "issue of conscience that is not really about party". | But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it was an "issue of conscience that is not really about party". |
| MPs will debate the Marriage Bill for England and Wales on Monday. | MPs will debate the Marriage Bill for England and Wales on Monday. |
| The letter to Mr Cameron was organised by the Conservative Grassroots umbrella group. | The letter to Mr Cameron was organised by the Conservative Grassroots umbrella group. |
| It said: "The marriage-based family is at the heart of Conservatism. | It said: "The marriage-based family is at the heart of Conservatism. |
| "This dilution and unravelling of marriage has de-motivated many ordinary, loyal Conservative Party members and has undermined their years of hard work for something they believed in. | "This dilution and unravelling of marriage has de-motivated many ordinary, loyal Conservative Party members and has undermined their years of hard work for something they believed in. |
| "It makes winning the next election virtually impossible... For the sake of our children they [the government] should also strengthen conventional marriage." | "It makes winning the next election virtually impossible... For the sake of our children they [the government] should also strengthen conventional marriage." |
| 'Utterly disenchanted' | 'Utterly disenchanted' |
| It added that many of those members who had abandoned the Conservatives for UKIP would not return unless the bill was abandoned "or the party leadership changed". | It added that many of those members who had abandoned the Conservatives for UKIP would not return unless the bill was abandoned "or the party leadership changed". |
| Bob Woollard, chairman of Conservative Grassroots, told the BBC the policy had "upset countless people and caused many, many people - hundreds, maybe thousands, to leave the party over this issue". | Bob Woollard, chairman of Conservative Grassroots, told the BBC the policy had "upset countless people and caused many, many people - hundreds, maybe thousands, to leave the party over this issue". |
| He said if there was no change it would be a "slippery slope downwards" with "more party members leaving the party, getting utterly disenchanted and frustrated that nobody is listening to them". | He said if there was no change it would be a "slippery slope downwards" with "more party members leaving the party, getting utterly disenchanted and frustrated that nobody is listening to them". |
| However, Mr Hunt told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme the prime minister was right to raise the issue even though it was "difficult" for many people. | However, Mr Hunt told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme the prime minister was right to raise the issue even though it was "difficult" for many people. |
| "I personally support it," he said. "I support it because I believe in the institution of marriage and I think we should be encouraging people to make a lifelong commitment to each other. I think society is stronger if you do that. | "I personally support it," he said. "I support it because I believe in the institution of marriage and I think we should be encouraging people to make a lifelong commitment to each other. I think society is stronger if you do that. |
| "In my own case I got married in a church and not a register office because I happened to want to make my marriage vows in front of God. | "In my own case I got married in a church and not a register office because I happened to want to make my marriage vows in front of God. |
| "I think if gay people want to do that, and if the church is willing to conduct that ceremony, we shouldn't stand in their way." | "I think if gay people want to do that, and if the church is willing to conduct that ceremony, we shouldn't stand in their way." |
| 'Tory infighting' | 'Tory infighting' |
| And the Conservative former minister Nick Herbert told the BBC the country had "moved on" and attitudes towards gay people were changing - churches were protected, he said: "But this is a reform whose time has come." | And the Conservative former minister Nick Herbert told the BBC the country had "moved on" and attitudes towards gay people were changing - churches were protected, he said: "But this is a reform whose time has come." |
| He said not all Conservative activists were opposed to same-sex marriage and said the bigger danger for the party was losing touch with the next generation of voters. | He said not all Conservative activists were opposed to same-sex marriage and said the bigger danger for the party was losing touch with the next generation of voters. |
| "No political party, I think can survive unless it's in touch with the prevailing attitudes of the day." | "No political party, I think can survive unless it's in touch with the prevailing attitudes of the day." |
| Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky: "I think it's a real problem if this gets lost in the vortex of the Tory infighting that we've had over the last couple of weeks, when actually it's a really positive bill that we should all want to celebrate." | Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky: "I think it's a real problem if this gets lost in the vortex of the Tory infighting that we've had over the last couple of weeks, when actually it's a really positive bill that we should all want to celebrate." |
| Supporters of same-sex marriage argue that separate civil partnerships perpetuate the notion that same-sex relationships are not as valid as heterosexual ones and that legal rights are still not exactly the same as those conferred by marriage. | Supporters of same-sex marriage argue that separate civil partnerships perpetuate the notion that same-sex relationships are not as valid as heterosexual ones and that legal rights are still not exactly the same as those conferred by marriage. |
| Campaigners also say same-sex marriage is increasingly being recognised by other countries, most recently France. | Campaigners also say same-sex marriage is increasingly being recognised by other countries, most recently France. |
| But in a separate letter to Mr Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, more than 500 Muslim community leaders and imams attacked the plans. | |
| They wrote: "We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is the cornerstone of family life, the only institution within which to raise children. | They wrote: "We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is the cornerstone of family life, the only institution within which to raise children. |
| "We are concerned that this radical change to the institution of marriage will impact what is taught in schools. Muslim teachers will be forced into the contradictory position of holding private beliefs, whilst teaching a new legal definition of marriage. | "We are concerned that this radical change to the institution of marriage will impact what is taught in schools. Muslim teachers will be forced into the contradictory position of holding private beliefs, whilst teaching a new legal definition of marriage. |
| "Muslim parents will be robbed of their right to raise their children according to their beliefs, as gay relationships are taught as something normal to their primary-aged children." | "Muslim parents will be robbed of their right to raise their children according to their beliefs, as gay relationships are taught as something normal to their primary-aged children." |
| Under the bill, the Church of England and the Church in Wales will be banned from offering same-sex marriages because of their strongly stated opposition, unless they change canon law. Other religious organisations will be able to "opt in" to holding ceremonies. | Under the bill, the Church of England and the Church in Wales will be banned from offering same-sex marriages because of their strongly stated opposition, unless they change canon law. Other religious organisations will be able to "opt in" to holding ceremonies. |
| There are currently no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland, but there are already plans for a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland. | There are currently no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland, but there are already plans for a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland. |