Should the legalisation of gay marriage be a significant priority for this government?
YES
Ruth Hunt
In his speech to the Conservative Party conference in 2011, the Prime Minister stated that “Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other.” This is a position that Stonewall enthusiastically endorses. At a time when the government seeks to support families in Britain, this modest measure will be warmly welcomed by the 3.7m lesbian, gay and bisexual people and their families right across the country.
We hope that, at a time when trust in politicians is at historically low levels, this doesn’t turn into another “tuition fees” issue – announced with much hoopla in the run-up to an important election and then abandoned. Stonewall will fight to push both coalition parties to deliver on their promise to implement this measure by 2015.
Ruth Hunt is director of public affairs at Stonewall.
NO
Tom Welsh
Very few reforms aren’t seen as essential, pressing or overdue. It’s the business of good government to weigh the justice of each case, consider its merits, and determine whether and when reform is worthwhile pursuing. Because governments, certainly this one, only have a limited supply of time, energy and political capital. They are creaking, disunited beasts, held together by a messy combination of career ambition, common principle and electoral calculation. They work best when single-mindedly pursuing an objective that all members can unite around – in the present case this should purely be about restarting a stalled economy. Gay marriage is inevitable, and wonderfully so, for changes in attitudes have eroded centuries of mistrust. But the coalition must refocus on a far more pressing priority – building a framework for reviving our moribund economy. Everything else needs to wait a little.
Tom Welsh is financial features writer at Morning Wire