MP gets foul homophobic emails from gay marriage critics (From Worcester News)
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Mid Worcestershire's Peter Luff tells of backlash over same-sex marriage vote
7:30am Thursday 7th February 2013 in Worcester By Tom Edwards
Peter Luff MP
FOUL “homophobic” emails and letters from people desperate to see gay marriage rejected have been sent to a Worcestershire MP.
Peter Luff, who represents Mid-Worcestershire, was also sent one note saying he is being prayed for and should “repent of his sins.”
The Conservative MP backed the bill on Wednesday, but has admitted the fall-out could impact on the number of activists prepared to campaign for the party in this year’s local elections.
“I had around 200 letters and emails and 80 or 90 per cent were opposed to it,” he said.
“Some of the emails I had were really foul, absolutely. I had a fair stream of homophobic emails from people.”
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was approved by a majority of 225 votes despite 139 Conservative MPs voting against it.
Mr Luff added: “Personally, I think it leaves David Cameron stronger but within the party he will be damaged.
“This is not an issue a lot of supporters feel good about and it will have an impact on people who help us out in county elections - that’s where the effect will be greatest.
“As far as I am concerned I just want to put this all behind us so we can concentrate on more important subjects.
“The party and the country was divided on it along generational lines, so in that respect it was an unwelcome distraction from the challenges facing the country.”
He said once he came out in support of the bill many people contacted him to pass on their thanks.
Andrew Grant, the president of Worcester Conservatives, who was one of the fiercest critics of the bill, said: “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, so obviously I was disappointed with the outcome.
“I am very concerned (about the elections) because most people I come into contact with are those party members in the higher age group who are slogging away and putting the money up.”
Councillor Adrian Hardman, leader of Worcestershire County Council, which has elections in May, said: “We’ll have to wait and see what the impact is, but I would hope activists are sensible enough to realise they’d be campaigning on local issues.”
The bill will need to go for a third reading before the commons and then be approved by the House of Lords before it become law.
It will make gay marriage legal in any non-Church of England establishment, although other religious organisations will have the ability to ‘opt out’ of a ceremony free from the risk of legal action.
Comments(30)
truth must out
says...
8:13am Thu 7 Feb 13
Perhaps that sums up the feeling of the constituents you are supposed to represent in this democratic country..!!
imustbeoldiwearacap
says...
8:48am Thu 7 Feb 13
truth must out wrote:Sorry, no, the letters do not sum up the feeling of his constituents, the letters only represent those who can be bothered to write! The majority of his constituents are probably ambivalent to this piece of legislation and cannot understand all the fuss. If gays want to get married and there is protection for the church etc. then why not! Personally I wish the legislation is passed quickly so the government can get back to looking after the majority!
“I had around 200 letters and emails and 80 or 90 per cent were opposed to it,” he said.
Perhaps that sums up the feeling of the constituents you are supposed to represent in this democratic country..!!
dulon
says...
8:49am Thu 7 Feb 13
ushmush83
says...
9:23am Thu 7 Feb 13
MJI
says...
9:58am Thu 7 Feb 13
imustbeoldiwearacap wrote:Exactly like the vast majority, I don't actually care either way as it does not effect me either way, but I do feel most of the anti people are insecure. And I am glad the churches are not being forced.
truth must out wrote:Sorry, no, the letters do not sum up the feeling of his constituents, the letters only represent those who can be bothered to write! The majority of his constituents are probably ambivalent to this piece of legislation and cannot understand all the fuss. If gays want to get married and there is protection for the church etc. then why not! Personally I wish the legislation is passed quickly so the government can get back to looking after the majority!
“I had around 200 letters and emails and 80 or 90 per cent were opposed to it,” he said.
Perhaps that sums up the feeling of the constituents you are supposed to represent in this democratic country..!!
.
As I have said before the economy is the priority and Cameron needs to stop giving away so much of our money when he is cutting back so much at home.
.
I am pleased though that the MPs voted according to their own thoughts rather than let a few people bully them.
MJI
says...
10:02am Thu 7 Feb 13
WhatGracieDid wrote:It is now up to the House of Lords, but they do tend to think things through properly.
As someone this bill actually affects, thank you to Peter Luff and Robin Walker for doing the right thing and voting in favour. This makes a difference to so many of us. Not just to those of us who are LGBT but our family and friends.
I hope they continue to keep backing this bill all the way through.
.
I hope for your sake it comes through for you. As a not bothered I feel there is enough protection for the religious organisations.
More Tea Vicar
says...
10:26am Thu 7 Feb 13
a - I have no strong views one way or the other regarding gay marriage (Mr Luff is talking about a very small number of people)
b - if anything, on a personal level, I am for rather than against
but
c - there are practical issues, notably a potential 'clash of rights', that can't be ignored (the gay 'right' to get married in a religion which might claim the 'right' not to be forced to participate)
d - this wasn't in the Tory manifesto
e - no disrespect to anyone with strong opinions on the matter, but the economy is at risk, the country is at war, borders are out of control, the main parties are committed to paving over the countryside, the NHS needs sorting.....why the emphasis on THIS, of all issues? As the small number of people mentioned by Mr Luff indicates,this is not a 'burning issue' for most people.
Jabbadad
says...
10:43am Thu 7 Feb 13
Jabbadad
says...
11:04am Thu 7 Feb 13
Mary79
says...
11:49am Thu 7 Feb 13
why should any tory mp care about our economy or uk jobs? they are in favour of limited rights for uk workers and support global capitalism because thats how these idiots make their own money - at our expense. get real or better still stop voting for them.
More Tea Vicar
says...
1:25pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Mary79 wrote:The left would have more of a chance of looking convincing on that if it hadn't been so vociferous in supporting mass immigration - which has done so much to drop wages and conditions, and limit people's chances of ever finding employment.
the gay marriage vote had the right outcome in the end no thanks to a lot of tory mp's.
why should any tory mp care about our economy or uk jobs? they are in favour of limited rights for uk workers and support global capitalism because thats how these idiots make their own money - at our expense. get real or better still stop voting for them.
The left spent years telling calling working class people who resented having to compete for jobs, wages and services with immigrants racist and stupid.
They have no right to claim to care now.
green49
says...
1:57pm Thu 7 Feb 13
8:13am Thu 7 Feb 13
Mr Luff;
“I had around 200 letters and emails and 80 or 90 per cent were opposed to it,” he said.
Perhaps that sums up the feeling of the constituents you are supposed to represent in this democratic country..!!
Quite agree with this, i am not bothered either way but as
More Tea Vicar says...
10:26am Thu 7 Feb 1
This wasn't in the Tory manifesto
No disrespect to anyone with strong opinions on the matter, but the economy is at risk, the country is at war, borders are out of control, the main parties are committed to paving over the countryside, the NHS needs sorting.....why the emphasis on THIS, of all issues?
Because it's Camerons morons who are using this as a diversion to whats really important to the majority in this country.
RobynN_WR
says...
2:53pm Thu 7 Feb 13
green49 wrote:On the manifesto point, yes it was.
truth must out says...
8:13am Thu 7 Feb 13
Mr Luff;
“I had around 200 letters and emails and 80 or 90 per cent were opposed to it,” he said.
Perhaps that sums up the feeling of the constituents you are supposed to represent in this democratic country..!!
Quite agree with this, i am not bothered either way but as
More Tea Vicar says...
10:26am Thu 7 Feb 1
This wasn't in the Tory manifesto
No disrespect to anyone with strong opinions on the matter, but the economy is at risk, the country is at war, borders are out of control, the main parties are committed to paving over the countryside, the NHS needs sorting.....why the emphasis on THIS, of all issues?
Because it's Camerons morons who are using this as a diversion to whats really important to the majority in this country.
Three days before the 2010 general election, the Tories published their contract for equality. The then shadow Home Secretary announced it.
Page 14 announces their intention to allow same-sex couples to marry. This policy was not foisted on the government as part of the coalition government.
green49
says...
2:57pm Thu 7 Feb 13
More Tea Vicar
says...
3:06pm Thu 7 Feb 13
green49 wrote:...well said.
3 days before the election that slipped under the radar then, good luck to you if you wanted it, i don't care either way but there are more things on the list that needed sorting first.
And I've heard a lot of commentators, including Tories, none of whom seemed to regard this as a manifesto commitment.
That's the problem with elections sometimes. We 'buy' the whole package, electing in the party we generally prefer, or at least dislike least.
People will have voted Tory expecting them to get the economy back up and running, cut government spending and waste, deal with the EU, immigration etc. Or just because they'd had enough of Labour.
Whether you agree with those policies is neither here nor there. Gay marriage issue is a major government policy commitment. Again, whether you agree with it is neither here nor there.
The point is, it was not flagged up as Tory policy. Personally, I don't regard it as a big issue. But for some people, it clearly is.
Jabbadad
says...
3:48pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Jabbadad
says...
3:50pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Jabbadad
says...
4:08pm Thu 7 Feb 13
In a stroke the Tories are absolutely in a monumental political stinker of a situation, whereby party members who opposed the Bill are furious and threatening to withdraw their support, the don't knows who are now annoyed won't vote for them, New Labour who have a following who don't always address such issues and will vote for them what may, and then the LIB / LAB / CON / DEMS who even within their own party are now the political Lepers.
So we have seen a political master stroke which is being played at the community acceptance (did not say Legal) cost of the LGBT.
For Cameron and the Tories to survive will take a miracle, and he desperately needs new advisers, since the ones he has are so far detached from the reality of the UK people, they must come from Mars.
TDH123
says...
4:14pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Mary79 wrote:The gay marriage vote "had the right outcome". " . . That is how these idiots make their own money". How simplistic and subjective! Should you not be practising what you preach and providing evidence of your assertions?
the gay marriage vote had the right outcome in the end no thanks to a lot of tory mp's.
why should any tory mp care about our economy or uk jobs? they are in favour of limited rights for uk workers and support global capitalism because thats how these idiots make their own money - at our expense. get real or better still stop voting for them.
Ron Payne
says...
4:39pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Omicron
says...
5:49pm Thu 7 Feb 13
With regards to him receiving nasty emails he's a politician for goodness sake. He must receive hundreds, if not thousands, of nasty emails and correspondence every year.
Tony Pingree
says...
6:15pm Thu 7 Feb 13
But this one has contributed toward something decent.
I still won't vote for him though.
Busymum2011
says...
6:55pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Lew Smoralz
says...
10:19pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Not that I am suggesting he would have let such a consideration influence him in any way. ;
RobertR
says...
11:37pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Elgol2012
says...
1:56pm Fri 8 Feb 13
As I'm not religious, I'm ambivalent about the main topic being discussed.
SgtAl
says...
6:36pm Fri 8 Feb 13
If you do I'm sure you must have to burn your money at the end of the month as you simply have too much.
RogerLFC
says...
8:51pm Sat 9 Feb 13
Brummagem Bertie
says...
1:52am Mon 11 Feb 13
SgtAl wrote:SgtAl, if you also had to pay £1.75 for each loaf you bought from Tesco to support the now unemployed local bakery workers, make up for the business rates and other taxes that the local bakery was no longer paying, and compensate for the profit on the loaf being redirected to a tax haven rather than being reinvested in the local economy, the £2 starts to look very good value for money.
Jabbadad, I apologise for picking up on one of your comments that is unrelated to the story, however, perhaps orders for Military equipment have gone overseas in order to ensure better value for (our, the taxpayer) money. After all, would you insist on paying £2 for a loaf of bread from your local bakery if you could get the exact same quality product for 62p from Tesco?
If you do I'm sure you must have to burn your money at the end of the month as you simply have too much.
WhatGracieDid says...
7:44am Thu 7 Feb 13
I hope they continue to keep backing this bill all the way through.