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| Cabinet minister: Gay couples cannot provide safe environment for children | Cabinet minister: Gay couples cannot provide safe environment for children |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Welsh secretary has said gay couples "clearly" cannot provide a "warm and safe environment" in which to raise children. | The Welsh secretary has said gay couples "clearly" cannot provide a "warm and safe environment" in which to raise children. |
| On ITV Wales' href="http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2013-02-14/face-to-face-david-jones/" >Face to Face programme, David Jones said this was why he had voted against the government's legislation for same-sex marriage. | |
| The Conservative MP said he was not homophobic and had "people in my life who are important to me who are gay". | The Conservative MP said he was not homophobic and had "people in my life who are important to me who are gay". |
| But Labour said the comments showed "the nasty party is alive and well". | But Labour said the comments showed "the nasty party is alive and well". |
| MPs were given a free vote on same-sex marriage legislation in the Commons last week, meaning that they were allowed to vote according to their consciences and did not face sanctions for taking an opposing view to their party leaders. | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage, but Mr Jones was one of two cabinet ministers to vote against it. | |
| 'Out of touch' | |
| The Welsh secretary told ITV: "I regard marriage as an institution that has developed over many centuries, essentially for the provision of a warm and safe environment for the upbringing of children, which is clearly something that two same-sex partners can't do. | The Welsh secretary told ITV: "I regard marriage as an institution that has developed over many centuries, essentially for the provision of a warm and safe environment for the upbringing of children, which is clearly something that two same-sex partners can't do. |
| "Which is not to say that I'm in any sense opposed to stable and committed same-sex partnerships." | "Which is not to say that I'm in any sense opposed to stable and committed same-sex partnerships." |
| He said he believed his constituents opposed the government's plan to allow same-sex couples to marry or convert their civil partnerships to marriages. | He said he believed his constituents opposed the government's plan to allow same-sex couples to marry or convert their civil partnerships to marriages. |
| In a statement after the interview, Mr Jones added: "I made the point of stressing that I was fully supportive of committed same-sex relationships. I also strongly approve of civil partnerships. | In a statement after the interview, Mr Jones added: "I made the point of stressing that I was fully supportive of committed same-sex relationships. I also strongly approve of civil partnerships. |
| "I did not say in the interview that same-sex partners should not adopt children and that is not my view. | "I did not say in the interview that same-sex partners should not adopt children and that is not my view. |
| "I simply sought to point out that, since same-sex partners could not biologically procreate children, the institution of marriage was one that, in my opinion, should be reserved to opposite sex partners." | "I simply sought to point out that, since same-sex partners could not biologically procreate children, the institution of marriage was one that, in my opinion, should be reserved to opposite sex partners." |
| But shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith strongly criticised the secretary of state's original remarks. | But shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith strongly criticised the secretary of state's original remarks. |
| "That such views exist in the heart of the Tory cabinet provides yet more evidence of how out of touch the Tories are with modern Britain, and how David Cameron's claim to have changed his party is, like so many of his promises, nothing more than empty words," the Labour MP said. | "That such views exist in the heart of the Tory cabinet provides yet more evidence of how out of touch the Tories are with modern Britain, and how David Cameron's claim to have changed his party is, like so many of his promises, nothing more than empty words," the Labour MP said. |
| "David Jones's comments are profoundly offensive and he should apologise immediately." | "David Jones's comments are profoundly offensive and he should apologise immediately." |