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| Gay marriage: Tory chairmen call for delay on vote | Gay marriage: Tory chairmen call for delay on vote |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Senior local Conservatives are urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election. | Senior local Conservatives are urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election. |
| More than 20 Conservative Association chairmen href="http://conservativegrassroots.org.uk/latest-news/permalink/2013-02/conservative-constituency-chairmen-converge-on-downing-street-over-gay-marriage" >have signed a letter to be delivered to No 10 on Sunday. | |
| It warns of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans enter law. | |
| The foreign secretary said MPs would be left to "make their own decision" when they voted on the plans next week. | |
| The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales. | The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales. |
| It would also allow couples who have previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage. | It would also allow couples who have previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage. |
| 'No mandate' | 'No mandate' |
| Meanwhile, the Sunday Telegraph reports some 180 Conservative MPs, including six whips and up to four members of the Cabinet, are ready to defy the prime minister's plan to legalise gay weddings. | |
| MPs will have a free vote on the issue, meaning they will not be issued orders by party whips. | |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague told BBC One's Sunday Politics: "It's for them to make their own decision, as it was when there were votes on abortion laws or capital punishment." | |
| "If we weren't debating it now, it would be an issue at the next general election." | |
| Marriage was "a very positive institution", Mr Hague said, arguing there was "sufficient protection" in the bill for religious organisations who did not want to offer it to same-sex couples. | |
| Same-sex marriage is a divisive one for the Conservatives. | Same-sex marriage is a divisive one for the Conservatives. |
| Many big beasts of the party, including London Mayor Boris Johnson, support it. He says they should "just whack it through". | Many big beasts of the party, including London Mayor Boris Johnson, support it. He says they should "just whack it through". |
| But this haste worries many traditional supporters. | But this haste worries many traditional supporters. |
| Tory MPs are being given a free vote on the proposals and it's thought three cabinet members, as well as junior ministers and party whips, are among those likely to oppose or abstain. | Tory MPs are being given a free vote on the proposals and it's thought three cabinet members, as well as junior ministers and party whips, are among those likely to oppose or abstain. |
| Grassroots members have also made clear their opposition in the letter signed by chairmen or former chairmen of Conservative Party associations. | Grassroots members have also made clear their opposition in the letter signed by chairmen or former chairmen of Conservative Party associations. |
| Giving same-sex couples the right to marry in a religious setting is something David Cameron hoped would win the party broader support. | Giving same-sex couples the right to marry in a religious setting is something David Cameron hoped would win the party broader support. |
| But, it seems, the issue risks splitting the party and alienating the party's core support. | But, it seems, the issue risks splitting the party and alienating the party's core support. |
| The letter is signed by 23 current and recent Conservative constituency chairmen. There are hundreds of chairmen across 650 constituencies. | |
| In the letter they warn about the impact of the plans on party morale and electoral appeal. | In the letter they warn about the impact of the plans on party morale and electoral appeal. |
| Writing "specifically out of our concerns about the growing discord within the Conservative Party over this issue", they also say "resignations from the party are beginning to multiply". | Writing "specifically out of our concerns about the growing discord within the Conservative Party over this issue", they also say "resignations from the party are beginning to multiply". |
| They say the decision for the vote has been made without adequate consultation with the Conservative Party membership or the country at large. | They say the decision for the vote has been made without adequate consultation with the Conservative Party membership or the country at large. |
| It says there is no mandate for the bill and that it is being pushed through in a way members find "extremely distasteful". | It says there is no mandate for the bill and that it is being pushed through in a way members find "extremely distasteful". |
| "More time should be afforded to debate an issue of such gravity… and a final decision on the matter should be postponed until after the 2015 general election when the public would have had the chance to vote on a clear manifesto pledge," they write. | "More time should be afforded to debate an issue of such gravity… and a final decision on the matter should be postponed until after the 2015 general election when the public would have had the chance to vote on a clear manifesto pledge," they write. |
| Measure supported | Measure supported |
| Conservative culture minister Ed Vaizey told Sky News he was supporting the government's bill. | |
| He said people in "loving relationships" deserve an "opportunity" to marry, adding: "Equal civil marriage is not distracting the government from a whole range of other important issues." | He said people in "loving relationships" deserve an "opportunity" to marry, adding: "Equal civil marriage is not distracting the government from a whole range of other important issues." |
| Also, Education Secretary Michael Gove has offered his support to the proposed legalisation of same-sex marriage but told the Mail on Sunday teachers would not be disciplined for refusing to promote it. | Also, Education Secretary Michael Gove has offered his support to the proposed legalisation of same-sex marriage but told the Mail on Sunday teachers would not be disciplined for refusing to promote it. |
| But he faces opposition from within Tory ranks within his constituency of Surrey Heath. | But he faces opposition from within Tory ranks within his constituency of Surrey Heath. |
| Geoffrey Veero, chairman of the Surrey Heath Conservative Association, told the BBC that "well over 25" local members had already resigned from the Conservative Party over the proposed introduction of gay marriage and that the number was "rising the whole time". | Geoffrey Veero, chairman of the Surrey Heath Conservative Association, told the BBC that "well over 25" local members had already resigned from the Conservative Party over the proposed introduction of gay marriage and that the number was "rising the whole time". |
| "I think a number of Conservative supporters and voters will sit on their hands on the issue, and that may well affect David's opportunity to get re-elected at 2015, and we think that that is a dangerous risk to take with your core supporters." | "I think a number of Conservative supporters and voters will sit on their hands on the issue, and that may well affect David's opportunity to get re-elected at 2015, and we think that that is a dangerous risk to take with your core supporters." |
| However, Conservative former education minister Tim Loughton says it was the "wrong time" to introduce such legislation. | |
| On Saturday, it emerged the government would not introduce a tax break for married couples in next month's Budget after speculation the measure would be brought in to appease Tory backbenchers opposed to gay marriage. | |
| However, legislation is expected to be introduced before 2015 to allow couples to transfer part of their personal tax allowance to their partner. | However, legislation is expected to be introduced before 2015 to allow couples to transfer part of their personal tax allowance to their partner. |