Determination to redefine marriage: cui bono?

Over 600,000 people have signed up to the Coalition for Marriage petition. There is a massive groundswell of opinion against the legalisation of same-sex "marriage." This measure was not in the Conservative Manifesto. It is irrelevant to the pressing economic problems facing our country. Three quarters of MPs have received more letters and emails opposing the measure than supporting it.

Yet the Prime Minister seems weirdly determined to push this through. George Osborne is the latest grandee to throw his weight behind it. Even Iain Duncan Smith, who opposed the repeal of Section 28 when he was leader of the party, has had a conversion experience and is now a true believer in the value of redefining marriage.

Back in March, the consultation document made it clear that the Government will take into account the various points raised in the consultation but not the number of responses received. They obviously already knew the level of opposition this proposal would generate. Imagine if the majority of responses were in favour of same-sex "marriage": Teresa May and Lynne Featherstone would be trumpeting the fact across the land. They knew that wouldn't happen.

It is good to read the statement of the Bishops regarding same-sex marriage and to hear of Archbishop Nichols' address in London after the Bishops' Conference meeting, urging George Osborne not to use marriage as a political football. I am just beginning to wonder whether this is actually about politics after all. It is of no obvious political use to the Conservatives: many MPs have expressed concern that it is upsetting core members and long term Conservative voters.

Cui bono? For whose benefit is this glassy-eyed determination to legalise same-sex "marriage"?

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