Voices of dissent: Gay marriage opponents attack

Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough: "Some senior party people have told [David Cameron] that he’ll have civil disobedience and an estrangement of faith communities."

Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East: "I was one of those that strongly believed that Section 28 was the right rules to have in school so that we should not in any way, shape or form promote same-sex relationships, I still abide by that."

Andrew Selous, MP for South West Bedfordshire: "[Gay marriage is] directly contrary to what Jesus said."

Edward Leigh, MP for Gainsborough: "The state has no right to redefine people’s marriages."

Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough: "I believe these proposals are a constitutional outrage and a disgrace. There is no electoral mandate for these policies."

David Davies, MP for Monmouth: "We're going to lose a large number of very loyal activists who've gone out and campaigned for us over the years and who don’t like this idea, so politically it's barking mad."

Bob Stewart, MP for Beckenham: "[Why are the Government] so hellbent on upsetting so many thousands of our citizens who are in normal marriages, especially at this time?"

David Nuttall, MP for Bury North: "With Christmas just around the corner, lots of people might be thinking of giving a dictionary as a present. Before they do so, and for the benefit of dictionary publishers, will the Minister say whether the Government have any plans to change the definition of any other words?"

Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset: "What right have they got, other than arrogance and intolerance, to stamp their legislative boot on religious faith?"

Dr Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon: "Has the Government considered introducing other forms of marriage, such as polygamy? And if not, when can minorities who believe in such a practice expect their consultation?"

Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey: "The suggestion that the Government’s proposals need not necessarily impact on religious belief is nonsense… That is not scaremongering; that is fact."