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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Gay marriage: Cameron's plea to activists as Commons debate continues | Gay marriage: Cameron's plea to activists as Commons debate continues |
| (37 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has sought to mend fences with Conservative activists angry over claims an ally of his called them "swivel-eyed loons". | David Cameron has sought to mend fences with Conservative activists angry over claims an ally of his called them "swivel-eyed loons". |
| MPs are continuing to debate plans to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales on Tuesday after surviving opposition led by Tory backbenchers. | MPs are continuing to debate plans to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales on Tuesday after surviving opposition led by Tory backbenchers. |
| But Mr Cameron has emailed all Tory activists to say he would never employ someone who "sneered" at them. | But Mr Cameron has emailed all Tory activists to say he would never employ someone who "sneered" at them. |
| Lord Feldman has denied making the alleged comment about Tory activists. | Lord Feldman has denied making the alleged comment about Tory activists. |
| The Tory party co-chairman is alleged to have made the remarks to newspaper reporters in relation to Europe. | The Tory party co-chairman is alleged to have made the remarks to newspaper reporters in relation to Europe. |
| But Tory backbenchers say the comments, if true, illustrate the "growing gap" between Mr Cameron's inner circle and ordinary party members. | But Tory backbenchers say the comments, if true, illustrate the "growing gap" between Mr Cameron's inner circle and ordinary party members. |
| Tensions | Tensions |
| Tensions between Downing Street and grassroots Tories have also been fuelled by the same sex marriage proposals, with 136 backbench Tory MPs voting on Monday against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. | Tensions between Downing Street and grassroots Tories have also been fuelled by the same sex marriage proposals, with 136 backbench Tory MPs voting on Monday against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. |
| The bill cleared its second reading in the Commons with support from Labour and Lib Dem MPs. It is due to receive its third Commons reading later on Tuesday but is not expected to face opposition on the same scale as Monday's vote. | The bill cleared its second reading in the Commons with support from Labour and Lib Dem MPs. It is due to receive its third Commons reading later on Tuesday but is not expected to face opposition on the same scale as Monday's vote. |
| It could face further objections when it goes to the House of Lords on Wednesday and, if peers make changes to the Bill, they will have to be approved by MPs at a later date. | It could face further objections when it goes to the House of Lords on Wednesday and, if peers make changes to the Bill, they will have to be approved by MPs at a later date. |
| Proposals to also allow heterosexual couples to take up civil partnerships were rejected by MPs on Monday. They instead backed a Labour plan to consult on civil partnership changes soon - rather than after five years. | Proposals to also allow heterosexual couples to take up civil partnerships were rejected by MPs on Monday. They instead backed a Labour plan to consult on civil partnership changes soon - rather than after five years. |
| In his email to Conservative activists, Mr Cameron said party members would not agree on everything and there would always be "criticism from the sidelines". | In his email to Conservative activists, Mr Cameron said party members would not agree on everything and there would always be "criticism from the sidelines". |
| 'Too little, too late' | 'Too little, too late' |
| But he urged them to focus on what they had in common, stressing he was "proud" of the work they had done and of their "deep and lasting friendship" with him. | But he urged them to focus on what they had in common, stressing he was "proud" of the work they had done and of their "deep and lasting friendship" with him. |
| "Time and again, Conservative activists like you stand for duty, decency and civic pride," he said. | "Time and again, Conservative activists like you stand for duty, decency and civic pride," he said. |
| "That's why I am proud to lead this party. I am proud of what you do. And I would never have around me those who sneered or thought otherwise." | "That's why I am proud to lead this party. I am proud of what you do. And I would never have around me those who sneered or thought otherwise." |
| The PM needs the support of grassroots activists to help him campaign for an outright majority at the next general election. | The PM needs the support of grassroots activists to help him campaign for an outright majority at the next general election. |
| But there is anger among some at his stance on gay marriage and Europe, with reports of defections to the UK Independence Party. | But there is anger among some at his stance on gay marriage and Europe, with reports of defections to the UK Independence Party. |
| Tory MP Brian Binley, who has led calls for an investigation into Lord Feldman's alleged comments, said the prime minister had "done a few things that the party in the country overall didn't want him to do". | Tory MP Brian Binley, who has led calls for an investigation into Lord Feldman's alleged comments, said the prime minister had "done a few things that the party in the country overall didn't want him to do". |
| He added: "He may believe in them but we are talking about the gap between himself and the party. | He added: "He may believe in them but we are talking about the gap between himself and the party. |
| "I think it is a growing gap, I think it can be put right and I think David Cameron is listening as proved by the fact that actions are now being taken." | "I think it is a growing gap, I think it can be put right and I think David Cameron is listening as proved by the fact that actions are now being taken." |
| And Robert Woollard, chairman of the Conservative Grass Roots organisation, suggested Mr Cameron needed to rein in some of his colleagues in No 10 who were "wet behind the ears" and "needed to get out more". | And Robert Woollard, chairman of the Conservative Grass Roots organisation, suggested Mr Cameron needed to rein in some of his colleagues in No 10 who were "wet behind the ears" and "needed to get out more". |
| "It's too little, too late," he said of Mr Cameron's email. "He's thrown us a bone, but there is no meat on it. What we are asking for is decency, some respect, some regard for our view." | "It's too little, too late," he said of Mr Cameron's email. "He's thrown us a bone, but there is no meat on it. What we are asking for is decency, some respect, some regard for our view." |
| 'Humanist question' | 'Humanist question' |
| The government wants gay couples to be able to marry in England and Wales as soon as next summer. | The government wants gay couples to be able to marry in England and Wales as soon as next summer. |
| MPs will vote later on an amendment to the Bill, to allow officially recognised groups, such as charities or voluntary organisations, which support and promote humanism to officiate at marriage ceremonies. | MPs will vote later on an amendment to the Bill, to allow officially recognised groups, such as charities or voluntary organisations, which support and promote humanism to officiate at marriage ceremonies. |
| Humanism is a secular system of beliefs that encourages people to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. At the moment, anyone taking part in a humanist ceremony must still have their marriage made legal through a register office. | Humanism is a secular system of beliefs that encourages people to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. At the moment, anyone taking part in a humanist ceremony must still have their marriage made legal through a register office. |
| Humanist ceremonies have been a fully legal form of marriage in Scotland since 2005. | Humanist ceremonies have been a fully legal form of marriage in Scotland since 2005. |
| Supporting the change, Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland said he had been a best man at a humanist wedding and it was an "appropriate and fitting solemn ceremony". | Supporting the change, Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland said he had been a best man at a humanist wedding and it was an "appropriate and fitting solemn ceremony". |
| Everyone should have the right to marry according to their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, he told MPs. | Everyone should have the right to marry according to their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, he told MPs. |
| But Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry, who speaks on behalf of the Church of England in the Commons, said the amendment had not been thought through and risked "unpicking the protections" for faith-based groups contained in the Marriage Bill. | But Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry, who speaks on behalf of the Church of England in the Commons, said the amendment had not been thought through and risked "unpicking the protections" for faith-based groups contained in the Marriage Bill. |
| He questioned whether the public was ready for the "prospect or possibility of pagan marriages taking place in England". | He questioned whether the public was ready for the "prospect or possibility of pagan marriages taking place in England". |
| Attorney General Dominic Grieve said the amendment was potentially open to legal challenge as it sought to give special status to humanist groups as opposed to other non-religious belief organisations wishing to solemnise marriages. | |
| MPs will also debate related issues, such as the definition of non-religious marriage, proposals for "civil unions" between gay and heterosexual couples and changes to the benefits system arising from the legalisation of gay marriage. | MPs will also debate related issues, such as the definition of non-religious marriage, proposals for "civil unions" between gay and heterosexual couples and changes to the benefits system arising from the legalisation of gay marriage. |