Maidstone and Weald MP and equalities minister Helen Grant has spoken out in defence of the government's plans for gay marriage, saying most people supported the idea.

Mrs Grant said the policy was a move towards greater equality, but acknowledged it was an emotive issue and disliked by many in her own party.

Her comments come on the day the bill returns to the House of Commons and the threat of a revolt among backbenchers.

The issue has split the county's MPs evenly and several are expected to join the latest rebellion over the policy.

The MP said the proposal was right. She said: "We recognise it is an emotive issue. There is always going to be a difference of opinion and that is why the Prime Minister has allowed a free vote.

"There are many people in the party who are not in favour but a large group in favour. If you look at the polls, all of them show that the majority in the country are in favour and see it as a good thing."

She added: "This bill is about equality; it is about stopping discrimination and it is about opening up marriage, which is a very important institution, to a significant number of people."

Conservative party chairmen from more than 30 local associations delivered a letter to the Prime Minister David Cameron at the weekend, warning gay marriage was costing them support among grass roots activists and could lose the party the election.

The letter said: "Your refusal to listen to reason and grassroots opinion is causing many previously loyal Conservatives to leave the party Some are lost forever and many will not contemplate re-joining unless the [same-sex marriage] bill is abandoned or the party leadership changed."

In February, when MPs first debated the bill, the following Kent MPs voted against: Roger Gale (Thanet North); Julian Brazier (Canterbury); Gareth Johnson (Dartford); Adam Holloway (Gravesham); Charlie Elphicke (Dover) and Rehman Chishti (Gillingham).

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