There are some very good reasons why conservatives should back gay marriage. Left Foot Forward has come up with five.
A spectre is cruising Europe, the spectre of gay marriage. This afternoon MPs will vote on whether to allow gay marriage in the UK.
This should not, however, be seen purely as a cause of the left. There are some very good reasons why conservatives (both big and small C) should back gay marriage:
1. If you believe the institution of marriage forms the backbone of a stable, prosperous society, why on earth would you wish to prevent consenting adults tying the knot?
Either you believe marriage is good for society or you don’t. If it’s the former, the gender of those getting hitched should be irrelevant.
2. It’s a vote winner.
According to a December poll, more than three in five voters back gay marriage. Of Britain’s 3.7 million lesbian, gay and bisexual people, 91 per cent back it.
3.It institutionalises something that’s already occurring.
With the creation of civil partnerships in 2004, same-sex couples can already form a union and receive the same rights as married straight couples. Instead of a parallel system which potentially undermines marriage, why not open up marriage to all?
4.It could revitalise marriage.
The number of couples getting married in the UK has been falling steadily since the 1970s, with a majority of the population now single, divorced or widowed. And yet there are lots of people who passionately want to get married but who are at present prevented from doing so. Their enthusiasm for the institution of marriage could be contagious. First, though, they must be allowed to marry.
5.It keeps the Liberal Democrats happy.
The Lib Dems are reeling at the moment. The chancellor cursorily dismissed the prospect mansion tax in his autumn statement, and it looks like House of Lords reform has been kicked into the long grass. Why needlessly antagonise them further when you can give them gay marriage?
The vote on same-sex marriage takes place this afternoon.
17 Responses to “Five reasons conservatives should support gay marriage”
LB
If we had direct democracy, the constituency issue largely disappears. Census or voter, I don’t particularly care.
What should happen is that we get a vote on issues. That sidelines the parties. e.g. At the moment. All those who don’t like the Tories just vote down their policies. You’re screwed for 5 years after an election.
Newsbot9
Yes, yes, you want to overthrow the system. And that most certainly doesn’t “sideline” parties, it makes them more powerful than ever, especially radical parties.
Even more limited forms of this have done terrible damage to i.e. California’s revenue over the years.
Feel free to try it out at home before you bring it to the UK!
LB
Does California have a deficit? You should get up to date with the latest.
So what’s the problem? Californian voters said no. It’s democracy, and politicians can’t force their views on the majority. Like the UK now. Labour is the largest party, and an irrelevance
Newsbot9
What’s the problem? Ah yes, you don’t have the faintest idea what a crank’s amendment has done. It’s distorting the housing market almost as badly as it is here…
LB
How insulting to the majority who think its a good idea.
California has eliminated their deficit. They still have the debt, but that will take decades to clear.