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| Gay marriage Bill support urged by senior Conservatives | Gay marriage Bill support urged by senior Conservatives |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Three senior Conservative ministers have made a late appeal to party MPs to drop any opposition to plans to allow gay marriage in England and Wales. | Three senior Conservative ministers have made a late appeal to party MPs to drop any opposition to plans to allow gay marriage in England and Wales. |
| It comes ahead of a Commons vote on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. | It comes ahead of a Commons vote on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. |
| Chancellor George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Secretary Theresa May href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/9848067/Cabinet-ministers-back-Bill-to-allow-same-sex-marriage-because-they-are-Conservatives.html" >wrote to the Daily Telegraph saying "a substantial majority" of Britons back gay marriage. | |
| But some Tories say the move will harm their 2015 general election prospects. | But some Tories say the move will harm their 2015 general election prospects. |
| Reports suggest upwards of 120 Conservative MPs could vote against the government's plans, including some cabinet ministers. | Reports suggest upwards of 120 Conservative MPs could vote against the government's plans, including some cabinet ministers. |
| 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. |
| 'Changing attitudes' | 'Changing attitudes' |
| It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage. | It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage. |
| But concerns have been raised that by changing marriage from being solely between a man and a woman, fundamental parts of marriage, such as the ability to divorce on the grounds of adultery or failure to consummate the marriage, would not apply to same-sex marriages. | |
| This is because current legal definitions of adultery and consummation are based on sexual contact between a man and a woman. Without these legal definitions, critics argue that same-sex marriage will be open to those who do not have a sexual relationship. | |
| MPs will have a free vote on the issue, meaning they will not be ordered to vote for or against by party whips, but the measure is expected to get through the Commons, with most on the Labour and Liberal Democrat benches supporting it. | MPs will have a free vote on the issue, meaning they will not be ordered to vote for or against by party whips, but the measure is expected to get through the Commons, with most on the Labour and Liberal Democrat benches supporting it. |
| In Tuesday's joint letter, the chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary wrote: "Marriage has evolved over time. We believe that opening it up to same-sex couples will strengthen, not weaken, the institution. | In Tuesday's joint letter, the chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary wrote: "Marriage has evolved over time. We believe that opening it up to same-sex couples will strengthen, not weaken, the institution. |
| "As David Cameron has said, we should support gay marriage not in spite of being Conservatives, but because we are Conservatives." | "As David Cameron has said, we should support gay marriage not in spite of being Conservatives, but because we are Conservatives." |
| The letter added: "Attitudes towards gay people have changed. A substantial majority of the public now favour allowing same-sex couples to marry, and support has increased rapidly. This is the right thing to do at the right time. | The letter added: "Attitudes towards gay people have changed. A substantial majority of the public now favour allowing same-sex couples to marry, and support has increased rapidly. This is the right thing to do at the right time. |
| "We will be among the Conservative MPs voting for this bill today." | "We will be among the Conservative MPs voting for this bill today." |
| Similarly, Culture Secretary Maria Miller told BBC News that same-sex marriage was "the right thing for the country, not just now but for the future". | |
| "This issue is another part of making sure Britain is a good place to live," she added. | |
| But on Sunday, more than 20 current and former Conservative constituency chairmen delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election. | But on Sunday, more than 20 current and former Conservative constituency chairmen delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election. |
| It warned of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans entered law. | It warned of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans entered law. |
| The author of another letter published in the Telegraph on Tuesday - the chairman of Witham Constituency Conservative Association in Essex - said he was "astonished by Mr Cameron's determination to proceed with this Bill despite objections from his party - and from the Church". | The author of another letter published in the Telegraph on Tuesday - the chairman of Witham Constituency Conservative Association in Essex - said he was "astonished by Mr Cameron's determination to proceed with this Bill despite objections from his party - and from the Church". |
| Tom Foster said it was "reckless" of the prime minister to "divide the party". | Tom Foster said it was "reckless" of the prime minister to "divide the party". |
| He added: "I am confident that gay marriage is viewed with disdain by the sort of Conservatives I respect." | He added: "I am confident that gay marriage is viewed with disdain by the sort of Conservatives I respect." |
| 'Division and distrust' | 'Division and distrust' |
| However, 50 senior Tory activists have argued that such opposition risks alienating voters and the plans have been strongly backed by Prime Minister David Cameron. | However, 50 senior Tory activists have argued that such opposition risks alienating voters and the plans have been strongly backed by Prime Minister David Cameron. |
| BBC deputy political editor James Landale says Downing Street hopes the row will have been forgotten by the general election. | BBC deputy political editor James Landale says Downing Street hopes the row will have been forgotten by the general election. |
| However, he says, others in the Conservative Party fear the division and the distrust could cost the party dear. | However, he says, others in the Conservative Party fear the division and the distrust could cost the party dear. |
| Downing Street said the prime minister had no plans to speak on the issue before the vote and there were no plans for him meet wavering MPs. | Downing Street said the prime minister had no plans to speak on the issue before the vote and there were no plans for him meet wavering MPs. |
| The government believes that the wording of the bill will ensure that the Church of England and the Church in Wales will not face any legal challenges to their strong stated opposition to holding same-sex marriages. | The government believes that the wording of the bill will ensure that the Church of England and the Church in Wales will not face any legal challenges to their strong stated opposition to holding same-sex marriages. |
| All religious organisations will be able to opt in to holding ceremonies - but the Church of England and the Church in Wales would first need to agree to change canon law. | All religious organisations will be able to opt in to holding ceremonies - but the Church of England and the Church in Wales would first need to agree to change canon law. |
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