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Gay marriage bill: Tories accuse David Cameron of Orwellian tactics Gay marriage bill: Tories accuse David Cameron of Orwellian tactics
(about 4 hours later)
David Cameron has been accused of adopting "Orwellian" tactics as traditionalist Tory MPs lambasted the government for bringing forward legislation for equal marriage without a proper mandate.David Cameron has been accused of adopting "Orwellian" tactics as traditionalist Tory MPs lambasted the government for bringing forward legislation for equal marriage without a proper mandate.
Downing Street was forced to defend the prime minister, who was also accused of "low political calculation", after he abandoned plans to make an eleventh-hour appeal to Tory MPs to back the bill that will allow same-sex couples to marry.Downing Street was forced to defend the prime minister, who was also accused of "low political calculation", after he abandoned plans to make an eleventh-hour appeal to Tory MPs to back the bill that will allow same-sex couples to marry.
Cameron failed to attend the opening of a lengthy commons debate when Maria Miller, the equalities minister, told MPs that the bill was another step for "an institution with a long history of adaptation and change".Cameron failed to attend the opening of a lengthy commons debate when Maria Miller, the equalities minister, told MPs that the bill was another step for "an institution with a long history of adaptation and change".
But Miller was supported by only one full member of the cabinet – the Commons leader, Andrew Lansley – during her speech as the most senior members of the cabinet stayed away from the opening of the debate.But Miller was supported by only one full member of the cabinet – the Commons leader, Andrew Lansley – during her speech as the most senior members of the cabinet stayed away from the opening of the debate.
George Osborne, William Hague and Theresa May, who wrote a joint letter to the Daily Telegraph supporting the change, were not on the government frontbench. George Osborne, William Hague and Theresa May, who wrote a joint letter to the Daily Telegraph supporting the change, were not on the frontbench.
Downing Street dismissed claims that the prime minister did not want to associate himself publicly with the measure. "I utterly reject the premise of that question," the prime minister's spokesman said to a suggestion that Cameron did not want to seen to be speaking publicly in favour of the bill. "The prime minister could not have been clearer about his views."Downing Street dismissed claims that the prime minister did not want to associate himself publicly with the measure. "I utterly reject the premise of that question," the prime minister's spokesman said to a suggestion that Cameron did not want to seen to be speaking publicly in favour of the bill. "The prime minister could not have been clearer about his views."
The strength of feeling was highlighted when Sir Roger Gale, the veteran Tory MP for Thanet North, accused the prime minister of an "Orwellian" attempt to redefine marriage. Gale said ministers may as well "take away" the bill and legalise incest.The strength of feeling was highlighted when Sir Roger Gale, the veteran Tory MP for Thanet North, accused the prime minister of an "Orwellian" attempt to redefine marriage. Gale said ministers may as well "take away" the bill and legalise incest.
"If the government is serious about this, take it away, abolish the civil partnerships bill, abolish civil marriage and create a civil union bill that applies to all people irrespective of their sexuality or their relationships. That means brothers and brothers and sisters and sisters and brothers and sisters as well.""If the government is serious about this, take it away, abolish the civil partnerships bill, abolish civil marriage and create a civil union bill that applies to all people irrespective of their sexuality or their relationships. That means brothers and brothers and sisters and sisters and brothers and sisters as well."
Nigel Dodds, the Democratic Unionist MP for North Belfast, said: "Can [Maria Miller] explain to the house why the government is bringing forward this bill now at a time when it wasn't in the Queen's speech, hasn't been the subject of a green paper or a white paper, when there are other things the government promised to do that they are not doing, such as marriage tax allowances? Isn't the truth of it that this is about low political calculation and detoxfying the Tory brand rather than anything to do with principle?"Nigel Dodds, the Democratic Unionist MP for North Belfast, said: "Can [Maria Miller] explain to the house why the government is bringing forward this bill now at a time when it wasn't in the Queen's speech, hasn't been the subject of a green paper or a white paper, when there are other things the government promised to do that they are not doing, such as marriage tax allowances? Isn't the truth of it that this is about low political calculation and detoxfying the Tory brand rather than anything to do with principle?"
Miller said to Dodds: "We are doing this very clearly as an important part of the way we can make this country a fairer place to live. The measure was clearly flagged up in our contract for equalities at the time of the election."Miller said to Dodds: "We are doing this very clearly as an important part of the way we can make this country a fairer place to live. The measure was clearly flagged up in our contract for equalities at the time of the election."
Sir Gerald Howarth, the former Tory defence minister, said: "Where does [Maria Miller] have a mandate to inflict this massive social and cultural change? It was not in our party's manifesto. The prime minister told Adam Boulton on Sky he had no plans to introduce this. There are many major issues this country needs to deal with. This is an irrelevance and it should not be pursued through the house least of all on a three-line whip on a programme motion with no real opportunity to debate it."Sir Gerald Howarth, the former Tory defence minister, said: "Where does [Maria Miller] have a mandate to inflict this massive social and cultural change? It was not in our party's manifesto. The prime minister told Adam Boulton on Sky he had no plans to introduce this. There are many major issues this country needs to deal with. This is an irrelevance and it should not be pursued through the house least of all on a three-line whip on a programme motion with no real opportunity to debate it."
But MPs were divided across the party. Robert Flello, a shadow justice minister, spoke out against the bill. Duncan Hames, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham who is parliamentary private secretary to Nick Clegg, raised concerns that registrars may face setbacks in their careers if they decline to conduct same-sex marriages ceremonies. But MPs were divided across party lines. Robert Flello, a shadow justice minister, spoke out against the bill. Duncan Hames, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham who is parliamentary private secretary to Nick Clegg, raised concerns that registrars may face setbacks in their careers if they decline to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Miller said: "This bill is about one thing – it's about fairness. It is about giving those who want to get married the opportunity to do so, whilst protecting the rights of those who don't agree with same sex marriage. Miller responded: "This bill is about one thing – it's about fairness. It is about giving those who want to get married the opportunity to do so, whilst protecting the rights of those who don't agree with same sex marriage.
"Marriage is one of the most important institutions we have. It binds families and society together. It is a building block that promotes stability. This bill supports and cultivates marriage.""Marriage is one of the most important institutions we have. It binds families and society together. It is a building block that promotes stability. This bill supports and cultivates marriage."