The issue of gay marriage continues to divide senior Conservatives, with the former defence secretary Liam Fox the latest to question whether it should be a government priority.
"This is a contentious issue but I have to say that I am much more in favour of social mobility than social engineering," Fox told Sky News. "I think that the vast majority of the public have a completely different set of priorities from what I would call the metropolitan elite and I think they will be looking for economic and social issues to be dealt with first."
The debate has been a source of division in the government. The Northern Ireland secretary, Owen Paterson, has declared his opposition to same-sex marriage, and the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, said the government should focus on "things that matter" more to voters.
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Liam Fox: gay marriage is not public's priority
10th June 2012
The issue of gay marriage continues to divide senior Conservatives, with the former defence secretary Liam Fox the latest to question whether it should be a government priority.
"This is a contentious issue but I have to say that I am much more in favour of social mobility than social engineering," Fox told Sky News. "I think that the vast majority of the public have a completely different set of priorities from what I would call the metropolitan elite and I think they will be looking for economic and social issues to be dealt with first."
The debate has been a source of division in the government. The Northern Ireland secretary, Owen Paterson, has declared his opposition to same-sex marriage, and the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, said the government should focus on "things that matter" more to voters.
Juliette Jowit | The Guardian
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