Sir Roger Gale and Julian Brazier will vote against gay marriage

by Alex Claridge

Two east Kent Tory MPs will vote against the Coalition government in the gay marriage bill at the House of Commons today.

Julian Brazier, the member for Canterbury and Whitstable, and North Thanet's Sir Roger Gale will make up a hardcore of Conservatives rebelling against PM David Cameron's government, which is the driving the legislation.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would allow gay couple to get married in civil and religious ceremonies and allow those in civil partnerships to convert their relationships into marriages.

But the proposal is unpopular with traditional Conservatives.

Among therm is Mr Brazier, who said: "The biggest problem with this bill is that it will expose Christian and other teachers with faith to the risk of being hounded through the courts if they continue to teach a traditional view of marriage.

"Schools are required to teach children about sex and marriage – there is no guarantee in the bill that those sticking to a traditional view of marriage will be protected."

The government believes "most people" in the United Kingdom support the idea of gay marriage. However, up to 180 Conservatives are likely to vote against the bill.

Sir Roger said: "I understand that there is a generation gap and that manyyoung people – my own children included – take a rather more relaxed attitude towards same-sex unions than those of us of a certain age.

"those who have drafted this dog's breakfast of a piece of legislation are now struggling to work out how they will address issues such as consummation and the inevitable divorces between same-sex couples." – sir roger gale

"With the perspective of advancing years, however, I am not remotely persuaded that sacrificing time-honoured traditions of faith and society on the altar of trendy modernity or artificial equality are acceptable as the way forward.

"Marriage, for those who belong to most faith groups, has represented and will continue to represent the union between a man and a woman, fundamentally for the purpose, within faith, of procreation and the raising of children within a loving and a secure family environment.

"Those who have drafted this dog's breakfast of a piece of legislation are now struggling to work out how they will address issues such as consummation and the inevitable divorces between same-sex couples."

Hugh Robertson, the Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid-Kent, is said to be in favour the gay marriage legislation but failed to answer a request for a comment.

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