The Home Office has had to defend government proposals to allow gay marriages after the Conservative MP for Welllingborough called them “completely nuts”.
During a parliamentary discussion on the subject, MP Peter Bone, urged the Church of England to block the plans in a religious setting, saying “Wouldn’t it just be very simple to write back and say ‘Marriage is between a man and a woman, so this is completely nuts?’.”
Bone told the Telegraph said: “It’s just a simple thing that a marriage is between a man and a woman, therefore that’s it.
“It’s not anti-civil partnership or anything like that, I just take a view that a marriage is between a man and a woman.
“I’m not sure where any political party had it in their manifesto they were going to redefine marriage.
“I’m all for civil partnerships and equal rights but the definition of marriage is a union between a man and a woman.
“I’m just saying unless you are going to redefine marriage there’s no such thing as a same-sex marriage because a marriage is between a man and a woman.”
A Home Office spokesman defended the proposal, stating: “If a couple love each other and want to commit to a life together, this Government believes they should have the option of a civil marriage irrespective of their sexual orientation.
“We are working closely with all those who have an interest in the area to understand their views.
“We are absolutely not changing religious marriage, or requiring religious groups to go against their traditions.
“Our consultation will look at how to open up civil marriage to same sex couples.”
Prime Minister David Cameron has already given his firm backing to same-sex marriage.
Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has called for signatories to a petition opposing the move through the group Coalition for Marriage.
