Gay weddings will be held in churches under radical plans to be unveiled by David Cameron, it emerged today.
The
Prime Minister was branded 'arrogant' by one Tory MP and warned he
would face calls to resign if he forced churches to hold gay marriages.
But
Mr Cameron made clear is ready to defy opposition from more than 100 of
his backbenchers to back religious groups hosting same-sex weddings.
He will stop short of forcing groups
which are against the policy from having to hold gay weddings, but will
argue that homosexual couples should have the same rights as
heterosexual partners.
Mr
Cameron has been repeatedly told by some Conservatives not to focus on
legalising gay marriage, warning the party will see its traditional
support base collapse.
But
the Tory leader will join Labour’s Ed Miliband and Lib Dem Nick Clegg in
arguing that gay couples should be able to tie the knot in a religious
setting if they want to.
Speaking
after an event in Redditch today, Mr Cameron said: 'I'm a massive
supporter of marriage and I don't want gay people to be excluded from a
great institution.
'But let me be absolutely 100% clear,
if there is any church or any synagogue or any mosque that doesn't want
to have a gay marriage it will not, absolutely must not, be forced to
hold it.
'That is
absolutely clear in the legislation. Also let me make clear, this is a
free vote for Members of Parliament but personally I will be supporting
it.'
Mr Cameron has vowed
to legislate before 2015, and next week Culture Secretary Maria Miller
will launch the government’s plans in response to this summer’s
consultation on the idea.
Government sources said a series of legal locks would ensure the protection of churches was 'watertight'.
The Prime Minister
took to Twitter to insist religious groups will not be forced to perform
gay marriages and Conservatives will not be whipped in the vote next
year
It is expected to allow religious
groups to ‘opt-in’ to hosting same sex weddings after vocal support for
the policy from groups including Quakers, Unitarians and Jewish Liberals.
However, many
churchgoers and religious groups are fiercely opposed to the policy.
The move also risks further alienating the Tory leader from some of his
backbenchers.
Tory MP
Stewart Jackson wrote on Twitter today: 'Gay marriage bill will be
massacred in the Lords and govt can't use Parliament Act as it wasn't in
manifesto. Arrogant Cameron knows best.'
Fellow Conservative Peter Bone said it was 'completely wrong' to suggest churches would not be forced to hold gay weddings.
'I’m
against the redefinition of marriage in any instance but if you
redefine churches and allow some churches to have what we’d call gay
marriages, it would be impossible for other churches not to hold them
because the European Court of Human Rights would enforce them to have
it.' he told BBC News.
'The
question I’d put to the Prime Minister is if a church that didn’t want
to marry people of the same sex, if they’re forced to, will the Prime
Minister resign? Because I absolutely do not think he will give us this
undertaking and no political party has any mandate for this whatsoever."
Culture Secretary Maria Miller will set out the
plans next week, promising legal 'locks' to protect churches opposed to
the idea of gay marriage
Ms Miller will promise legal
‘locks’ to give groups like the Church of England and the Roman Catholic
Church protection from being forced to host gay weddings.
Ministers will seek guidance from the Europe to ensure the new rules are not open to legal challenge.
It
is thought the plans will include a complex opt-in system, with Ms
Miller insisting that groups like Quakers and some Liberal Jews who want
to host same-sex weddings should be allowed to do so.
'I
would not introduce a Bill that would in any way impinge on a church's
power to decide who it marries,' Ms Miller said last month.
'
Marriage is all about creating some
stability in society. It is all about helping people have long-term
relationships together.
'I think more people should be married and I
don't think the state should stand in the way of people getting married
unless there is a really good reason — and being gay isn't one of them.'
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg insisted the
government would not force force any church to hold same sex marriage
ceremonies if they do not want to
Government lawyers believe the opt-in to be best way to protect churches who do not want to hold gay weddings.
MPs
will be given a free vote on legislation next year and it is expected
to be passed with a large majority, with the backing of Labour and the
Liberal Democrats.
Deputy
Prime Minister Nick Clegg said today on a visit to the South West: 'I’m a
supporter and always have been of same sex marriage, because I think
marriage is a wonderful thing, a wonderful institution.
'It’s
a demonstration of a couple’s commitment to each other, of their loving
relationship and they wish to celebrate that in the eyes of society and
I think we should make that celebration, that ceremony if you like,
available to everyone regardless of who they are.
'It’s
very important to remember that in our plans we’re not going to force
any church or any religious denomination to hold same sex marriage
ceremonies if they don’t want to but I do think it’s time that we allow
any couple, no matter who they are, to marry if that’s what they want to
do.'
Last month it emerged more than 100 out of 303 Tory MPs have written to constituents indicating their unease at the policy.
If they all vote against the Bill next year, it would be the biggest Tory rebellion in modern times.
Backbencher
Douglas Carswell, one of those who will vote against, said: ‘I think
you’ve got to have your head stuck in the Westminster bubble to think
this is a priority.’
A
government spokesman said: 'The Government is committed to bringing
equal civil marriage forward and the consultation results will be
announced next week.
'We
are very clear that religious organisations must be protected and that
no religious organisation will be forced to conduct same-sex marriage
ceremonies.
'The
European Convention on Human Rights guarantees freedom of religion and
we will additionally bring in very strong legal locks to ensure the
protection is water tight.'
Labour's
Yvette Cooper said: 'People who love each other and want to make a long
term commitment should be able to get married whatever their sexuality.
David Cameron has listened, that is very welcome, but it is important
too that Parliament gets on with it now. The Quakers, the Unitarians,
Reform Judaism and other faiths who support same sex marriage should be
able to celebrate it.'
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