As Remain's Project Fear becomes Project Smear and the 'remainstream media' lap it up, let us consider what Tory leadership contender, Andrea Leadsom really thinks about marriage equality (emphasis added by me).
“I believe the love of same-sex couples is as every bit as valuable that of opposite sex couples – absolutely committed to that. But nevertheless, my own view actually, is that marriage in the biblical sense is very clearly from the many many Christians who wrote to me on this subject – in their opinion – can only be between a man and a woman."
When asked if she agreed with those writing to her to tell her that marriage can only be between a man and a woman, Ms Leadsom responded: “No I don’t actually agree with them. I don’t agree with them to be specific."
Ms Leadsom added that she would have prefered the legislation to have included civil partnerships for both heterosexual and gay couples and for "marriage [in the Church] to have a remained a Christian service for men and women who wanted to commit in the eyes of God." She went on to explicitly state that homosexual and heterosexual couples are "exactly" equally worthy of marriage.
Ms Leadsom added that she would have prefered the legislation to have included civil partnerships for both heterosexual and gay couples and for "marriage [in the Church] to have a remained a Christian service for men and women who wanted to commit in the eyes of God." She went on to explicitly state that homosexual and heterosexual couples are "exactly" equally worthy of marriage.
To explain her position further, Ms Leadsom went on to say that the legislation caused a "very clear hurt ... to many Christians who felt that marriage in the Church could only be between a man a woman." She explained that her issue was with the legislation (not the principle) because of "the potential compulsion for the Church of England" and that she does "not think that the Anglican Church should be forced down a route" it is not happy with. On that basis she voted to abstain by voting in favour of marriage equality but voting against the specific legislation. To clarify still further she added, "But I absolutely support gay marriage."
It is clear what Andrea Leadsom's position is; support for gay marriage while respecting the rights of the religious to set their own direction within their own Churches.
It is truly shameful that Ms Leadsom's Remain opponents in the left-wing media would seek to unnecessarily and disingenuously build up the fears of the LGBT community just to smear a Tory leadership candidate or to increase the number of clicks on their increasingly hysterical social media posts. As for Conservative rival, Theresa May, it ought to be made clear to her camp that encouraging these smears will only do damage to the long term reputation of the Conservative Party as a whole.
When remainers discovered on the 23rd June that merely shouting "racist" at opponents to the EU did not help them win the referendum, you might be forgiven for thinking that they could have learned a valuable lesson. Apparently not. Instead, they've opted to merely attempt a different bogus accusation in the hope that, once again, creating division and fear of prejudice will work better this time. Andrea Leadsom supports gay marriage "absolutely" and there is not so much as a thread of truth to the homophobia smear campaign.
