Just before the election in 2010 the Tories introduced their "contract for equalities" document which said they recognised civil partnerships and would recognise them in the tax system.
It also said they would consider changing the law to allow civil partnerships to be called marriages and classified as such.
So putting this bill through, presumably having given due consideration to the issues, is actually keeping a promise the Tory party made as outlined in a major policy document launched by the then shadow equalities minister Theresa May.
There is no need for a referendum as it was a clear party policy before the last election and anyone voting for them can't really object to this bill on the basis of it not being party policy.
The fact their own MP's want to scupper it reflects badly on them.
First of all why did they stand for a party with such a clear policy on this in the first place if they are so against it?
Is it because they fear UKIP?
Either way its disingenuous because it was either right to have this as party policy and so they should defend it given it was, not now claim the opposite or they are showing total lack of principle if they are willing to rip up party policy in the face of a bunch of nutters in UKIP particularly when opinion polls support the bill?
