COTSWOLDS MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown defied David Cameron yesterday and voted against introducing gay marriage.

Mr Clifton-Brown was one of 136 Conservative MPs who voted against the bill in the House of Commons, despite the Prime Minister urging them to support it.

The bill was passed by 400 to 175 – a majority of 225 – in what Mr Cameron called "an important step forward."

Mr Clifton-Brown said that he was fulfilling a pledge that he had made to the hundreds of constituents who had written to him.

He confirmed only a handful had written supporting the bill.

“I fully support same sex couples to participate in civil ceremonies, which give them all of the rights and privileges that married couples have,” Mr Clifton-Brown said.

“However I believe that marriage, whether it be civil or religious, is different because it is between a husband and a wife mainly with the aim of having children.

“Although I fully respect all of those who hold this view very strongly, parliament has now voted to allow same sex marriage to proceed and it remains to be seen what unexpected consequences that will cause.”

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