Cameron position on gay marriage unworkable and dishonest

Friday, 7th December 2012

David Cameron today declared that he supports the right of churches and other denominations to conduct same sex marriages. But he repeated his idea that his will be able to protect those denominations that do not wish to conduct these ceremonies from the European Courts.
Nigel Farage the UKIP leader said: "This is just not possible. While of course UKIP supports those denominations who wish to conduct gay marriage ceremonies, the statement from the Prime Minister seems to be both unworkable and dishonest.
"Firstly, he is talking about churches, not denominations. If parish was set against parish in this way his proposal would rip apart the established churches in this country.
"If this were to be allowed to happen, if one parish could, and another couldn't, or one diocese could and another couldn't, the way would be open both to legal challenge to those that rejected gay marriage, and for years of internecine strife within the church".
"He repeats that he is planning to ensure an absolute guarantee that those who oppose gay marriage would not be forced to do so, saying: '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'.
"But as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a member of the European Union and subject to the rulings of the European Courts, both of Justice and Human Rights, he does not have the right, nor the power to make such a guarantee.
"It is dishonest in the extreme for him to suggest that he does."
"That he is making these statement before the release of the Government's consultation just shows the contempt with which he holds public opinion on the matter".