Hammond: ‘Sense of anger’ over gay marriages
ITV, Friday, 17 May 2013

No huge demand for gay marriage, says Philip Hammond
The Guardian, Friday, 17 May 2013

‘No great demand for gay marriage’, says senior Tory minister Philip Hammond
London Evening Standard, Friday, 17 May 2013

Ministers’ U-turn to save gay marriage: Government promises review into future of civil partnerships
Daily Mail, Friday, 17 May 2013

Will you be my civil partner? Government proposals may revolutionise traditional marriage
Daily Express, Friday, 17 May 2013

In a letter to fellow members of the House of Lords, Lord Dear, explained his decision to table the motion: “We have before us a Bill which affects issues of the profoundest importance and yet which the Government is seeking to force through in the most undemocratic and shameful way.

“The Bill redefines marriage, a principal institution of society, for everyone; causing great concern about the future consequences for the family, civil liberty and for Church and State. Such a proposal should surely only be brought forward after prolonged deliberation and having allayed such major concerns in advance.

“Yet despite the widespread and deeply-felt opposition in the country, the Government is using its raw power to press ahead as fast as possible. The political parties have no mandate from the public to bring it forward: the redefinition of marriage was not included in any party manifesto. The official consultation process massaged the results to downplay opposition and has been widely dismissed as a sham. The House of Commons process has been marked by guillotined debates and undue pressure from party hierarchies on individual MPs.

“In my view, the House reserves this power for these circumstances: when the executive is clearly acting with no democratic mandate and without regard to the proper constitutional processes.”

Lord Dear signalled his opposition to the Bill in the Lords recently when he spoke about the lack of proper scrutiny and democratic legitimacy. He pointed to the lack of public support for the Bill and expressed concern that the move could be counter-productive and damage social cohesion.

http://tinyurl.com/c4mRuislip Today, C4M activists were leafleting voters in Ruislip in North West London.

The leaflets, which give ten reasons why the Government is wrong to redefine marriage, were given out in the constituency of Nick Hurd MP.

Click a photo to get the hi-res version.

http://tinyurl.com/c4mRayleigh Today, C4M activists were leafleting voters in Rayleigh in Essex.

The leaflets, which give ten reasons why the Government is wrong to redefine marriage, were given out in the constituency of Mark Francois MP.

Click a photo to get the hi-res version.

http://tinyurl.com/c4mEpping Today, C4M activists were leafleting voters in Epping in Essex.

The leaflets, which give ten reasons why the Government is wrong to redefine marriage, were given out in the constituency of Eleanor Laing MP.

Click a photo to get the hi-res version.

Gay marriage referendum call from David Burrowes MP
BBC News, Tuesday, 14 May 2013

http://tinyurl.com/c4mLudlow On Saturday, C4M activists were leafleting voters in Ludlow in the West Midlands.

The leaflets, which give ten reasons why the Government is wrong to redefine marriage, were given out in the constituency of Philip Dunne MP.

Click a photo to get the hi-res version.

MPs demand public vote on gay marriage
(£) Sunday Times, Sunday, 12 May 2013