""Same sex marriage is a whim.
It was never mentioned when Labour was forming its equality legislation, or when Civil Partnership legislation was going through.
It has just been conjured up out of nowhere. Keith A.""

Good old reliable Keith. The only man I know whose prejudiced thinking allows him to ignore all the evidence and all the facts, and hold fast to the untrue statement he hopes will slip by the rest of us unnoticed.

The following from Wikipedia:

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

That is the party leadership contest before the 2010 General Election, which was won by Ed Milliband. So not really conjured out of nowhere then, especially not by David Cameron who wasn't yet PM.

""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".""

That is the LibDems confirming the policy.

""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.""

February 2011 to December 2012. That would appear to be a reasonable period of consultation for something upon which all parties (except the UKIP funny farm inmates) are in broad agreement.

What is it Keith? Are you miffed because they didn't ask your opinion?

""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 ""

So, just short of three years of rushing it through, with nearly two years of consultation, to be followed by implementation no later than 2015, five years overall.

As you have missed all those eight references to same sex marriage from all shades of political party, I have highlighted and underlined them, for your benefit.

Perhaps a visit to SpecSavers?

Don T.