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Tory activists attack David Cameron on same-sex marriage Crisis of conservatism is destroying party, say grassroots Tories
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron's support for same-sex marriage has made winning the general election "virtually impossible", Conservative activists have said. A "crisis" over same-sex marriage, Europe and attitudes towards its grassroots is threatening to destroy the Tory party, activists say.
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 delivered to Downing Street, 34 past and present local Conservative Party chairmen urged the PM to drop the same-sex marriage bill.
But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it was an "issue of conscience that is not really about party". Reported comments from a senior Tory calling activists "swivel-eyed loons" were "no surprise", they added.
MPs will debate the Marriage Bill for England and Wales on Monday. Downing St said it was "categorically untrue" anyone there made the comments.
The letter to Mr Cameron was organised by the Conservative Grassroots umbrella group. Two national newspapers reported on Saturday that an ally of Prime Minister David Cameron had described local Conservative associations who put pressure on Tory MPs to vote for a Eurosceptic amendment to the Queen's Speech as "mad swivel-eyed loons".
It said: "The marriage-based family is at the heart of Conservatism. 'Wider malaise'
"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. Conservative co-chairman Lord Feldman said he was taking legal advice over "untrue" web rumours he had made "derogatory comments" and senior Conservatives rallied round him - Tory vice-chairman Bob Neill told Sky News: "I think we have to be very, very wary of this, I think, rather slipshod bit of journalism."
"It makes winning the next election virtually impossible... For the sake of our children they [the government] should also strengthen conventional marriage." But Ben Harris-Quinney, Director of Conservative Grassroots, said: "It doesn't matter who made these comments, the problem is that it comes as no surprise and is representative of a wider malaise in the party - the disconnect between the leadership and the grassroots."
'Utterly disenchanted' He organised a letter and petition signed by 34 former and current local association chairmen, largely criticising the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales, which returns to the Commons on Monday.
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". They complained of a "crisis of conservatism" and three issues which were currently "destroying the party" - Europe, same-sex marriage and the "contempt" for party membership from the leadership - as demonstrated by the "loons" comment.
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". "Your refusal to listen to reason and grassroots opinion is causing many previously loyal Conservatives to leave the party," they wrote.
"Some are lost forever and many will not contemplate re-joining unless the [same-sex marriage] Bill is abandoned or the party leadership changed."
'No vision'
They said the bill had led to voters switching to the UK Independence Party and claimed it made winning the next general election "virtually impossible".
On Europe, Mr Harris-Quinney said there was "nothing wrong with David Cameron's position on Europe as things stand" but both sides of the debate had been "angered by the process and lack of clarity in getting there".
"This is the problem in the Conservative Party now, there is no vision or narrative."
Bob Woollard, chairman of Conservative Grassroots, told the BBC the same-sex marriage bill 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 Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it was an "issue of conscience that is not really about party".
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. 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, saying marriage between a man and woman "is the cornerstone of family life, the only institution within which to raise children".
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.
"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."
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.