It would seem that, far from being a Tory whim, this is official policy for Labour and LibDem and a free vote for Tories, which suggests that dissenting Tories will actually make the bill a Labour/LibDem success. The following answers quite neatly the lie about this being a sudden whim and without consultation.

""During the Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2010, all the leadership candidates endorsed same-sex marriage as Labour Party policy.

On 21 September 2010, the Liberal Democrats, a junior member of the governing coalition, officially endorsed same-sex marriage when the party's conference in Liverpool approved a policy motion called "Equal Marriage in the United Kingdom".

In February 2011, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government expressed its intention to begin a consultation to allow both religious same-sex ceremonies and civil marriage for same-sex couples.

In September 2011, the Government announced its intention to introduce same-sex civil marriage by the next general election.

On 7th December, 2012, the BBC announced that the Coalition government was going to extend the right to have a same-sex marriage conducted in a place of worship provided the religious body approved.

This would bring Westminster legislation in line with the plans of the Scottish Parliament to legalise both civil and religious same-sex marriage.

In 2010 the Green Party of England and Wales, the Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru endorsed same-sex marriage at their party conferences.

The following groups and individuals have expressed their support for same-sex marriage legislation in England and Wales:

    The Liberal Democrats
    The Labour Party
    The Conservative Party (though many within the party oppose)
    The Green Party of England and Wales
    The Times
    The Guardian
    Tim Montgomerie, editor of the ConservativeHome website

Opposition

The following groups and individuals have expressed their opposition to same-sex marriage legislation in England and Wales:

    UK Independence Party
    The Telegraph
    Daily Mail
    The Sunday Times""

Seems the Tories are least in favour but still determined to do the right thing, with the backing of all the moderately sane parties in full support.

Looks like democracy at work in the spirit in which it was intended to function, with genuine majority rule.

And since 71%, or 55% (depending on whose poll you look at) of the public is in favour, that would suggest that democracy still happens occasionally.

Some Churches are anti, but they are exempt if they wish to be, while those who, in a genuine Christian spirit, follow Christ's teachings ("Love thy neighbour"; I don't recall him being quoted as adding "unless they're gay") are free to welcome couples to be married in church.

Lifelong relationships will follow and HIV risk will eventually diminish, though Ake will claim it hasn't after waiting three months from the first marriage ceremony.

Don T.