Gay Marriage
David Cameron’s gay marriage silence
The Hurlingham Club hosted the Tories’ annual fundraising Black and White Ball last night. Behind closed doors, the Prime Minister gave a speech to Tories with deep-pockets. There was none… Continue reading
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Will the European court force churches to conduct gay weddings?
Would the European Court of Human Rights force churches to conduct same-sex marriages against their will? That’s the professed fear of some opponents of the Same Sex Marriage Bill being… Continue reading
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Gay marriage vote: where’s Cameron?
As soon as the government announced plans to bring in gay marriage, it was clear that the press was going to turn the vote on it into a referendum among… Continue reading
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Conservative MPs should think twice before voting against equal marriage
Equal marriage has provoked anguished internal discussions in the Tory Party. Twenty Association Chairmen have asked the Prime Minister to backtrack on the proposals and up to 180 MPs are… Continue reading
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Whips try to neutralise row over gay marriage scrutiny arrangements
In the next few hours as the vote on the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill approaches, the ‘undecideds’ are declaring how they will vote. Yesterday I… Continue reading
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Ministerial aide could defy whip on gay marriage vote
Downing Street is very keen to emphasise that Tory MPs who vote against the second reading of the gay marriage bill tomorrow are not ‘rebels’. This is a free vote,… Continue reading
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Same-sex marriage is homophobic
The current ‘Same Sex Couples Bill’ is part of a trend that supposes equality is only to be advanced by erasing all differences between us so that we are all… Continue reading
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No 10: No last-ditch pitch from PM on gay marriage
Downing Street always knew tomorrow’s gay marriage vote was going to provoke tensions. But what’s interesting is how unsure Number 10 is about how to approach the free vote on… Continue reading
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The same-sex marriage bill and religious freedom
Parliament is entering the frenzied final hours leading up to the second reading of the same-sex marriage bill. MPs will vote on the legislation at around 7pm tomorrow, and today’s… Continue reading
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William Hague: Somalia, Pakistan and Afghanistan is where the threat to the British homeland is coming from
On the Sunday Politics, William Hague confirmed that the greatest terrorist threat to the British homeland come from Somalia, Pakistan and Afghanistan. But he argued that without intervention, the Sahel… Continue reading
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More Tory splits and plots
David Cameron arrived back in the UK this morning to newspapers full of talk of Conservative splits and plots. The moment of unity that followed his Europe speech has well… Continue reading
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Tory opponents of gay marriage meet as whipping plans upset backbenchers
Tory MPs opposed to gay marriage are holding a meeting in the next hour to discuss next Tuesday’s second reading of the Bill, I understand. The meeting is being co-ordinated… Continue reading
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Why the Tory leadership thinks it can push gay marriage and boost its support among ethnic minority voters
If the Tory party doesn’t improve its performance with ethnic minority voters, it’ll be nigh-on-impossible for it to win a general election in a generation’s time. The single biggest driver… Continue reading
95 Comments High Court judge: Gay marriage is ‘wrong policy’
Sir Paul Coleridge’s intervention in today’s Times (£) on gay marriage has ensured the debate won’t go quiet after various angry Christmas Day sermons. The High Court Judge tells the… Continue reading
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Will the Lords really slay the gay marriage bill?
Think the Commons is in uproar at the moment over gay marriage? Just wait until the legislation makes its way into the House of Lords. The received wisdom is that… Continue reading
112 Comments Tensions in the tearoom on gay marriage
This week’s developments over gay marriage have left a febrile atmosphere in the Conservative party. As Fraser wrote yesterday, David Cameron seems to have driven his party ‘quite mad’ by… Continue reading
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Gay marriage: no culture wars, please, we’re British
Ever since the issue of gay marriage returned to British politics, we have seen the debate become crazier and crazier. When Tony Blair handled this with his Civil Partnerships Act… Continue reading
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Maria Miller holds gay marriage briefing to reassure nervous Tory MPs
After giving her statement to the House of Commons on the government’s plans for gay marriage, Maria Miller held a meeting with Tory MPs. I understand that the meeting was… Continue reading
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Maria Miller unveils ‘quadruple lock’ to protect churches from gay marriage court actions
Maria Miller sought to assuage the fears of her backbench colleagues about the government’s plans for gay marriage today by announcing a ‘quadruple lock’ to prevent any religious leader being… Continue reading
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Commons shadow boxing on gay marriage
Today’s urgent question on gay marriage was largely shadow boxing for the statement on it, which has now been brought forward to tomorrow. Maria Miller insisted that the chance of… Continue reading
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