A group of senior local Conservatives have personally delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the Prime Minister to delay a vote on same-sex ‘marriage’ until after the next general election in 2015.
Damage
The letter, signed by 23 current and former constituency chairmen, argues that the decision to push the Bill through Parliament was made “without adequate debate or consultation” and would lead to “significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election."
It states: “We are of the clear view that there is no mandate for this Bill to be passed in either the 2010 Conservative Manifesto or the 2010 Coalition Agreement and that it is being pushed through Parliament in a manner which a significant proportion of Conservative Party members find extremely distasteful and contrary to the principles of both the Party and the best traditions of our democracy.”
It also warns that should marriage be redefined “long-held religious and personal freedoms and the right to free speech will be adversely affected” and that the Government’s proposed quadruple lock will be unable to offer protection against legal challenges due to anti-discrimination legislation.
Betrayal
Ed Costelloe, former chairman of Somerton & Frome Conservative Association, said: “Many of us feel a huge sense of personal betrayal over these plans.
“We worked hard locally to convince people to support Conservatives but this was not part of the platform.
“We are also shocked by the way in which it is being pushed through with so little regard for proper scrutiny. The Government seems intent on restricting debate at every stage both in the public consultation and now in the Parliamentary process.
“There is huge public concern at the local level and we are seeing people leave the Party. It is certainly not a vote winner.”
No mandate
Conservative councillor Ben Harris-Quinney, who delivered the letter to Downing Street with five other senior grassroot Conservatives told the BBC: "It's frankly madness to bring this matter before Parliament at this time.
“There was no mandate in the manifesto or the Coalition agreement, nor was it announced in the Queen’s Speech. It’s not a minor point, and the only democratic way to do this is to put it in a manifesto.”
MPs will vote on the government’s Marriage (same-sex) couples Bill during a second reading tomorrow (5th February). According to the Telegraph, up to 180 Tories are expected to abstain or vote against the Bill.
Sources: