Most people support the idea of holding a referendum to decide whether marriage should be redefined, a new poll has shown.
In a recent survey commissioned by the Coalition for Marriage, 54 per cent agreed that redefining marriage should be put to a public vote.
Of those surveyed, only 26 per cent disagreed with the idea of a referendum of the people.
Surprising
The Coalition for Marriage, which campaigns against the Government redefining marriage, says the results aren’t surprising.
Campaign director Colin Hart said: “This poll follows a series of bad news stories for the PM’s profoundly undemocratic plans.”
He added, “ordinary men and women have never been able to cast a vote on the issue as neither the Conservatives, Lib Dems, or Labour included this proposal in their manifestos and they are fed up with being told it is going to happen regardless of what the majority of people in this country believe.”
Christian
David Burrowes, a Tory MP who is also a Christian, called for a public vote on gay marriage last year.
He said that whilst he “wouldn’t want to throw referendums around like confetti”, this is an issue that “should not be left to politicians without a mandate to go ahead”.
Mr Burrowes said: “That is an issue of such fundamental importance, it will affect how society is built, but also has constitutional implications – we are not just dealing with a civil institution that the state can deal with, it is one which has a relationship with the Church and others.”
Consultation
The results of a public consultation on redefining marriage are due to be published next month.
Last week, the Government played down assertions from a “senior source” that gay marriage would be on the statute books within weeks.