An English Conservative has joined homophobic Scottish campaigners who claim that gay marriage could lead to the legalisation of polygamy.
Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley in Yorkshire, said that he feared if the UK government goes ahead with plans to give same-sex couples equal marriage rights, then who knew what would be next.
He wrote on his blog: ‘My overriding concern is that if we do indeed as a Parliament change legislation to allow same-sex marriage now, then what will our successors be discussing and have to legislate for in the future? Polygamy? Three-way relationships? Who knows what else?’
Whittaker made reference to other countries where gay marriage is legal as evidence for his claim, saying it has led to the legal recognition of three-way relationships in the Netherlands, genderless birth and marriage certificates in Spain and the US state of Massachusetts and a 2007 appeal court ruling in Ontario, Canada, which allowed a child to legally have three parents.
Whittaker’s comments come amid a u-turn from David Cameron, who has reportedly backed down from his vow to legalise gay marriage, following a crushing defeat in local elections.
The UK government launched a 12-week consultation on gay marriage on 15 March which can be completed here.
