In response to a perception in the media that the Prime Minister's initiative to legalise same sex marriage is unpopular with Conservative grassroots, Paul Swaddle, former Conservative Party National Convention Chairman (2012/13), sent the letter below, signed by over 100 Conservative Party activists, to Number 10.
Equal Marriage - An Open Letter to The Prime Minister:
Prime Minister,
This week the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill reaches the Report Stage and Third Reading in the House of Commons.
I, and many other Conservative activists around the country, think that this issue - already once supported by a majority in the House of Commons - should be backed again by MPs of all parties.
The majority of people in this country support same sex marriage, and many of them really do not understand the fuss. Faith groups are protected from the legislation should they so wish, therefore those of faith should not be worried by the Bill. This is an issue of particular importance to younger voters and MPs risk appearing out of touch if they pander to a vocal minority.
We need to deal with the Bill then move on together as a Party to outright Conservative victory in 2015. I call on all MPs to back the Bill and thank the Prime Minister for making equality possible.
Thank You
Paul Swaddle Conservative Party National Convention President 2012/13
Matthew Sephton Deputy Chairman
Nicholas Allen Chairman
Peter Booth Constituency Chairman
Simon Fox Chairman
Iain Lindley Deputy Chairman (Political)
Fraser McFarland Member
Daniel Hawkridge Chairman
Cllr Stephen Haraldsen Chairman
Allan jones Deputy chairman political
Nathan James Cruddas Former Constituncey Officer
Geoff Pickering DC Political
Robert Reynolds Deputy Chairman
Anthony Gearing County Councillor
Alex coleman Peppard Branch Chairman
Robert Nemeth Officer
Antonia Noble Member
KELVIN POPLETT Association Officer
Michael Rutherford Area Officer
Neill Young Councillor
Dr Paul Buckley Deputy Chairman (Political)
Ben Howlett Former National CF Chairman
Ed Hopper Councillor
Daniel Bond Deputy Chair Conservative Future
Oliver Cooper National chairman
Adam Carney Former CF Chairman
Emma Webster Chairman and Councillor
Maxwell Woodger Deputy Chairman Political of London Conservative Future, Chairman of Kensington, Chelsea & Fulham Conservative Future
Andrew Bruce Activist
Simon Jones Chairman
Isobel Ballsdon Cllr
Donna Jones Conservative Group Leader, Portsmouth city council
Benjamin Datnow Activist
Alex Hopkins Activist
Jonathan Wilson Activist
Mike Wood Past Chairman (2010-2012)
Cllr Henry Lamprecht Cllr Southgate Green Ward, London Borough of Enfield
Thomas Puddy Deputy Area Chairman (Political)
Sally Roberts London Regional Chairman, CWO
George Rear Activist
David Betts Cllr
Felix Bungay Secretary
Rachel Shawcross Agent
Mark Sherer Regional CFS Treasurer North of Scotland
Christian Cliffe Treasurer
Katie Lam Chairman
John Moss Deputy Chairman Political
Trevor John Robert Wood Fellow traveller
niina strobel representative for Indonesia conservative abroad
Nigel Fletcher Councillor
Thomas Pike Activist
Charlie Winch CF President
Nieko Hayer Activist
Damon Shinnie Chairman
Iain McGill Chairman
Andrew Burtenshaw Association Chairman and Councillor (2008-2012)
Matthew Kilcoyne Activist
Alex Wilson Deputy Chairman (Political), Cllr (Cabinet Member)
Andrew Gordon David Yule East of Scotland Regional Chairman
Phillip Dawson Treasurer 2006 - 2012
Jennifer Salisbury Jones Activist; University association chair
Owen Williams Committee Member
Ian Duncan Candidate for Euro elections
Ian Colpman Deputy Chairman
Andrew James Brades Officer
Max Rodgers Activist
Timothy Smith Activist
Will Searle Activist
Will Timmins Activist
Chris Kerwin Activist
Samantha Magnus Previous Chair of West Yorkshire CF
Matt Clare Cllr
Michael Pudney Activist
James Atkins Activist
Amil Khan Political Officer
Allan Finnie Vice Chairman
Charles Barwell President, National Conservative Convention 2010-2011
Josh Geddes Chairman
Jim Cooper Chairman
Garvan Walshe Activist
Hugo George Greenbank Graham Member
Lee Martin Parliamentary Candidate & Sunderland City Councillor
Andrew Kennedy West Kent Group Agent and Co-opted member of Kent Area Management Executive
Robert McIlveen Former Chairman, activist and candidates list
Cllr Richard Willis Dep Chmn Political, former PPC, former Area and Regional Dep Chmn
Steven Kensington Activist
Andrea Louise Stephenson Agent
Ben Locker Activist
Thomas Turrell Deputy Chairman
Stephen Ellis Councillor and Activist
Narmina Hodge Witney Activist, Representative of Azerbaijan for Conservatives Abroad.
Linda freeman chairman
Richard Brinck-Johnsen Activist
Tim Roll-Pickering Association Chairman
Christopher Douse Member
Tracy Sutton Chairman
Christopher Wardle Activist
Rene Harwood Kinzett Chairman
Philip Brownlie Activist
Cllr Scott Seaman-Digby Cllr
Alex Carroll Association Hon. Secretary
Christopher Smith Treasurer & Council Candidate
Cerise Reed Voter
Matthew Kaye Party Member
Stephen Ion Association Vice President
James Caldecourt Area Chairman, Conservative Future
GAVIN CHAMBERS CHAIRMAN OF TOWN CONCIL , DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
Tom Golds Member: Central Beds, LGBTory, Conservative Future
joseph Barker-Willis Area Chairman
Eric Batts Deputy Area Chairman and Cllr
Joe Newton-Smith White Activist
John Walker Activist
Carolyn Clews Member
James M. Butcher Councillor
Nicolas Webb Association Deputy Chairman
Matt Boughton Chairman
Christopher Byrne Cllr, Branch Chairman
David Morgan Activist
Ginny Heard Agent
Neil Wilson Agent
Daniel Ivtsan Activist
Martin McGann Honourary Secretary
Christopher Rowell Regional Chairman
Daniel Bull Activist
Darius G Laws Activist
