British conservatives split over gay marriage
A letter signed by 22 current and former chairmen of local groups urges the prime minister to reconsider or at least delay the plans, which face a crucial vote this week.
With 303 Conservative MPs and more than twice that many parliamentary constituencies in the UK, the signatories officially represent a small proportion of the party grassroots party. But their intervention will be taken seriously with growing signs of unhappiness among Tory MPs and their supporters. Even MPs who support equal marriage laws report they are inundated with emails and letters objecting to the move and only a small handful are in support.
Sunday newspapers report that up to four cabinet ministers and potentially more than half of Conservative MPs are considering voting against the bill on Tuesday – which despite being a free vote would be an embarrassment to the Tory leadership and especially for David Cameron, who has been so closely associated with the proposal.
Blowback
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A bit surprising, coming from the Tories – they’ll shag anything!
OldEnglish on February 3, 2013 at 5:32 PM
They already have civil partnerships.
Blake on February 3, 2013 at 5:35 PM
We’re close to the day someone tells you they’re married, and then you have to ask them, are you married to a man or a woman. Because “marriage” would mean something different than it does today.
/What difference, at this point, does it make
Paul-Cincy on February 3, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Only the “conservatives” are split??? Let’s ignore the fact that Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, retired in protest and he is a Fabian Socialist, who was one of the leaders that fought to make the CofE accept gay priests.
But, nooooooooo, only the British “conservatives” are split over this issue. lol
SSM is not a priority for most of the British people at this time of economic uncertainty, “austerity” a/k/a tax rises (and deep spending cuts, which are postponed indefinitely, Krugman), growing distrust and animosity of the EU, problems caused by unlimited immigration (which is about to get worse under new EU rules), feral children, a welfare class that sees no value of any kind in work, etc.
The people that believe this is high up on the list of priorities are Etonians like Muffin Cameron.
Resist We Much on February 3, 2013 at 6:27 PM
I wonder how much the out-breeding of Liberals by Conservatives is counter-acted by their monopoly on schools, media, and The Narrative and how that affects the number of those who accept gay marriage as legitimate. Well, I’m doing my part to raise up my children with traditional values and though they will treat homosexuals with the same compassion they treat all the lost, hopefully they will never accept the premise of same-sex marriage.
Living4Him5534 on February 3, 2013 at 6:35 PM
You will be bitter in your old age.
thuja on February 3, 2013 at 8:01 PM
I doubt it, but please, elaborate.
Living4Him5534 on February 3, 2013 at 8:57 PM
I’m sorry. I didn’t notice you replied until just before I was going to bed. I’m sure there will be future opportunities for us to engage. I hope you sleep well tonight!
thuja on February 3, 2013 at 10:12 PM