Marriage: Pray it will not be redefined

Conservative MPs are planning what could be the biggest ever backbench rebellion faced by Prime Minister David Cameron over his stated intention to legislate for full homosexual marriage.

At least 100 Conservative backbenchers are thought to strongly oppose homosexual marriage."Feelings are running high," one senior party source told the Independent yesterday.

Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, has announced plans for a ‘consultation' to be launched next March which is to be followed by a change in the law.

David Burrowes MP told the paper that he is "cautiously optimistic" the proposal will be defeated in the Commons because it would "fracture" the institution of marriage.

"Many colleagues are worried that it would fundamentally affect how marriage between a man and woman has historically been viewed in this country. There are strong doubts that we need to go down this path. It would open up a can of worms and a legal minefield about freedom, religion and equalities legislation."

Mr Burrowes claimed that there is strong opposition to homosexual marriage across the Conservative Party spectrum.

Religious Freedom

Some critics of the proposed plans are concerned that religious liberties would be at further risk should homosexual marriage be introduced. Should they be allowed to be conducted in churches, then pastors and vicars could become one step closer to being sued under equality legislation if they did not approve of and conduct homosexual marriages in their places of worship.

Expressing a view on homosexuality and sexual ethics could also become even more dangerous. Tory candidate Philip Lardner was sacked for stating on his website that he believed homosexual acts were ‘not normal behaviour'; and Tory MP Chris Grayling's comments about Christian bed and breakfast owners being justified in denying double beds to same-sex couples staying in their homes almost certainly cost him a cabinet post.

A number of Christians have recently been punished, demoted or even lost their jobs for not wanting to compromise their Christian views on homosexuality including Dr Sheila Matthews, Gary McFarlane, Lillian Ladele, Lesley Pilkington, Andrew McClintock and Theresa Davies.