Conservatives and gay marriage

Clarity and transparency? Yes and no

David Cameron says he is a Conservative. If he says so I believe he thinks he is. But what sort of conservative is he? He talks tough about the riots but does not seem to have a reasoned idea about why such things happen. He talks tough about the European Union, yet he demures when push comes to shove with the unelected bureaucrats. He says things are not right with the country but yet his government continues to borrow vast sums. It all seems like sticking plasters over gaping wounds.

The leader of the Conservative Party is supposed to be wedded to conservative values, traditional thinking and an ability to see the benefit of change when change enhances and strengthens tradition. Over the last few decades we have seen leaders struggling with the forces of opportunism as they encroach on conservative values. There are rumblings now because David Cameron appears not to be wedded to these values in their entirety. He has a kind of civil partnership with the Tory Party.

I wouldn't mind so much if we knew what he actually believed. Today he linked the need for gay marriage with being a Conservative. Big or small "c", I can't find where that fits in to conservative values. It is perfectly proper that civil partnerships were allowed as that is a matter of fairness. These are unions in law. But marriage is something else. Most people know that. It has been defined as such for several thousand years. What I don't understand is why he feels it necessary to push this onto the Conservative Party right now. What of those who do not or will not accept such an understanding of marriage? He mentioned dogs and they tend to bark and bite back. David Cameron said, "Remember, it's not the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog." Yes, that's very true. And the Conservative Party is made up of all breeds and none. Pushed too far and too quickly those who dislike a party without traditional conservative values might just get up and flex their muscles to see how much fight they've actually got in them.

Posted in: Conservative Party,David Cameron,gay marriage