The Gay Marriage Bill is up for debate in the Lords today.
Arch anti-gay lord Carey spluttered:
QUOTE
same-sex marriage would set a "dangerous precedent" which could lead to sibling marriage or polygamy.
In an article for think tank Civitas, he said did not want to be "alarmist", but said it could logically be extended to "say, two sisters bringing up children together" or "multiple relationships, such as two women and one man".
And the eyes in the Tory grassroots swivelled:
QUOTE
"deep concern" about "the negative effect of the gay marriage bill on both Conservative Party morale and electoral appeal".
The Conservative Grassroots group has called on peers to reject the bill.
"It is alienating much of our core support while failing to attract new voters with under two years to go before the general election," chairman Robert Woollard wrote.
As it is
polling suggest that gay marriage may marginally alienate voters, but it's marginal. It is an exaggeration to say that "much of our core support" will be alienated, though polling suggests that a substantial minority of Tories, maybe 10%, would vote elsewhere, but that a similar number would vote Tory
because of the gay marriage reforms, so I can't find the justification for Robert Woolard's comments. But in any case, shouldn't the government try and do what's right, not just what the party die-hards want?
But again on the polling, ask someone whether they'd be more or less likely to vote Tory if they introduce the gay marriage bill and you get one answer, but ask people what it is that will decide their voting preference at the next election and you get quite a different answer. Asked directly it's true that Tories lose a marginal 2-3% of their vote (they lose around 12%, but gain around 10%) - but asked about issues few actually mention gay marriage, and the majority of those who do will vote for the party that introduces it. It's the problem of false prominence.
So while the agitation of powerful activists such as Lord Carey makes gay marriage look like a terribly divisive issue, the reality is that it's not something that most people are fussed about either way, and of those who are, they support it.
Anywho, there's a wrecking motion in today's debate so the Lords may possibly try and derail the Bill, and that would be pretty poor democracy.