PM’s betrayal

It is extremely sad that David Cameron, in his desperation to be seen as “relevant”, “modernising” and “inclusive”, has decided the best way to do so is pander to vociferous minority groups and push for the divisive legalisation of same-sex unions in a church setting (your report, 
6 February). In doing so, and 
irrespective of the wishes of the main churches, he has betrayed the core values of the party he both leads and serves.

“Conservative” – the word says what it is – means both to 
protect and maintain a set of values, in this case the sanctity and security of traditional marriage.

It seems that by initiating this change he is minded to attract voters who, formerly, would not have voted for the Conservatives. This presumably means homosexuals and lesbians.

He may be right, but in doing so he has simultaneously lost the votes of untold numbers of traditional Conservative voters. He also seems eager to please the Liberal Democrats by refusing married couples a much-needed tax break, thereby further undermining one of the institutions that underpin the stability of our society.

There is little doubt that this will hurt the Conservative vote at the next general election and, should the SNP, in full knowledge of the results of its own 
survey, emulate the same policies, its vote at the independence referendum too.

However, perhaps we should also consider that the Labour Party (and, of course, the Greens) support a similar cause, so it is safe to say that irrespective of what party was in power this unfortunate legislation would have happened eventually.

Brian Allan

Keith Street

Kincardine-on-Forth

The shameful opposition of 136 Tory MPs to Tuesday night’s historic triumph of equality over dogma in the marriage equality vote makes us question the integrity of their libertarianism.

They object to the individual being imposed on by the state and yet seem happy for the 
individual to be imposed on by the church.

Neil Barber

Saughtonhall Drive

Edinburgh