Conservative leadership faces rebellion in both houses in parliament, criticism from within and without the party; Europe and same sex issues sees UKIP support increase
MPs and Peers launch gay marriage rebellion saying Cameron has ‘no mandate’
Almost 60 MPs and peers, including 35 Tories, sign an open letter opposing government plans to legislate same-sex marriages.
The scale of rebellion David Cameron faces over same-sex marriage is made clear as dozens of MPS and peers signed up to a new cross-party alliance publicly pledging to resist the move.
Almost 60 members of the Commons and Lords have signed a letter to The Daily Telegraph accusing the Coalition of acting without a mandate.
In a strongly-worded statement, they pour scorn on the Government’s consultation process which they say is mired in doubts over its legitimacy.
And they accuse the Coalition of “ploughing on regardless” in the face of what they describe as an “overwhelming public response” opposition to the change.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20751705
When Conservatives forget how to be conservative, they lose
David Cameron’s proposals for gay marriage show that he hasn’t thought very hard about it, writes Charles Mooore the former editor of the Daily Telegraph –
Since I am opposed to gay marriage, I would like to be able to prove that David Cameron is making a political mistake by trying to push it through. Politicians think much more about electoral success and personal survival than anything else, so the only way to make them pay attention is to convince them that these precious things are threatened by their actions.
It is certainly the case that Mr Cameron has annoyed his grassroots supporters more by his backing for same-sex marriage than by anything else he has ever done. Most of them are against it in principle and bewildered about why their leader thinks it urgent. Conservative MPs, including some in favour of the change, tell me that they haven’t encountered such resistance and such upset on any issue since he took over in 2005.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9745592/When-Conservatives-forget-how-to-be-conservative-they-lose.html
Prime Minister, why is gay marriage taking precedence over Europe, immigration, energy policy and the boundary review?
Norman Tebbit, writing in the Telegraph states – The vital question of where when and how should capacity be provided to maintain the position of London as a hub for airline operations has been shunted away into the future. The curse of unlimited, uncounted immigation has still not been lifted. London is no longer a predominately white British city. Two in every ten people in our country were not born here. Mr Cameron’s great speech defining his policy on our relationship with the EU is stil not made. The boundary review to equalise the number of electors in each constituency has drifted away on the river of time. Energy policy seems to be decided in a series of political fights amongst Ministers.
It is hard to say if that is because they are difficult matters in themselves or because of bickering and posturing by the Coalition junior partners.
Economy and same-sex marriage send UKIP soaring to 14% – its highest-ever ComRes rating
Ukip plans to derail the Tories over gay marriage
William Oddie, writing in the Catholic Herald – Farage has perceptively concluded that this, not the economy or Europe, is what will destroy Cameron
Farage understands the Tory grassroots much better than Cameron and his pals; this, in the end, is what will unseat him as leader of the party
[…] I mention the Guardian because of its (credible) front page splash on Wednesday: “Ukip plans to derail David Cameron over gay marriage.” Nigel Farage has, it seems, spotted what many others saw some time ago, but what Cameron himself has apparently not yet understood: that this, not Europe or the economy, could be the issue which will destroy his leadership of the Tory party and lose him the election.
The main group campaigning against the change – the Coalition for Marriage (whose petition, ignored by the government, as I write has 620,505 signatures) – is warning Tory MPs that the issue could bring about what it is calling Cameron’s “Iraq moment”. Tony Blair needed the support of Tory MPs to win the Iraq vote after 139 Labour MPs rebelled. But winning that vote with the help of his enemies did lasting damage to Blair’s authority within his party from which he never recovered. That seems to me an entirely valid parallel.
Cameron thinks this is all about the modernisation of the party and bringing it into touch with modern Britain. But if he loses the trust of his party, in the country as well as in the House, he will find himself walking on very marshy ground; and if he goes any deeper into this swamp (as he can now hardly avoid doing) it could (and I predict will) swallow him up. Members in the constituencies are resigning in record numbers. And it’s not just the Guardian which is reporting that. According to Iain Martin in the Telegraph, “Tory MPs say they are getting a steady stream of letters from outraged constituents and party members who are resigning. One MP, a supporter of gay marriage, admitted that the letters have been running 6-1 against over the past six months.”
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2012/12/14/ukip-plans-to-derail-the-tories-over-gay-marriage-farage-has-perceptively-concluded-that-this-not-the-economy-or-europe-is-what-will-destroy-cameron/
Gay marriage calls trust in David Cameron into question, says Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor
John Bingham, Telegraph – David Cameron’s stance on same-sex marriage calls into question whether he can personally be trusted, the former leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has suggested.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the former Archbishop of Westminster issued a blistering attack on the Prime Minister’s position on marriage remarking that he wondered whether the Prime Minster was “someone whose steadiness of purpose can be relied on”.
He contrasted Mr Cameron’s determination to pursue same-sex marriage, which was not an election commitment, with his failure so far to live up to pledges to introduce tax incentives for married couples.
He described the Government’s plan to extend marriage to same-sex couples as an “abuse of language” which he said would ultimately weaken the institution.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9750580/Gay-marriage-calls-trust-in-David-Cameron-into-question-says-Cardinal-Cormac-Murphy-OConnor.html