Steve Brine

2012-05-13T11:48:39Z

Statement on same-sex marriage consultation

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:48, 13 May 2012
Line 21:		Line 21:

	:"It will be for GPs themselves, managing their budgets, to enable patients to exercise greater choice. That choice should not be dictated by politicians or vested interest but should be determined by patients and their clinical advisers."<ref>http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/8304555.Health_sceptics_criticise_Winchester_MP_over_support_for_homeopathy/</ref>		:"It will be for GPs themselves, managing their budgets, to enable patients to exercise greater choice. That choice should not be dictated by politicians or vested interest but should be determined by patients and their clinical advisers."<ref>http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/8304555.Health_sceptics_criticise_Winchester_MP_over_support_for_homeopathy/</ref>
		+
		+	==Same-sex Marriage==
		+	In 2012, following the launch of the coalition government's consultation on same-sex marriage, a statement from Mr Brine was posted on his website<ref>http://www.stevebrine.com/other/gaymarriage</ref>. It started:
		+
		+	:"I want to be crystal clear with you that I support civil partnerships and had I been in Parliament at the time I would not have hesitated to support the move to give equality under the law to gay and lesbian couples but I am frankly baffled as to why the Government is bringing this consultation forward at this time, if at all."
		+
		+	He indicated he knew that the proposals would affect only civil marriages, not religious marriages:
		+
		+	:"They also tell me they have listened to those religious organisations that raised concerns about the redefinition of religious marriage in compiling this consultation document. They are aware that some religious organisations that solemnize marriages through a religious ceremony believe that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. That is why this consultation is limited to consideration of civil marriage and makes no proposals to change the way that religious marriages are solemnized. It will not be legally possible under these proposals for religious organisations to solemnize religious marriages for same-sex couples. There will therefore be no obligation or requirement for religious organisations or ministers of religion to do this."
		+
		+	He noted his own view:
		+
		+	:"My own personal view on this free-vote issue for MPs is shaped (albeit not exclusively) by the fact I am a Christian. I simply do not see who is demanding this change and I do not see why there is any need to go beyond civil partnerships, which deliver legal parity already as I have said, and fundamentally change the definition of marriage in the process."
		+
		+	And encouraged constituents to participate in the consultation:
		+
		+	:"I think it is essential that as many people as possible tell this coalition Government exactly what they think of these proposals by taking part in the consultation. My advice to constituents is to not be bound by the limits of that consultation either; by all means answer the questions but take time to add a personal letter with a view on the principle of equal civil marriage. As the local MP I am collating all correspondence I am receiving on the subject and will be sending that under my cover to [[Lynne Featherstone\|Ms Featherstone]] in due course."

	==References==		==References==
Line 35:		Line 52:


-	Why not help us expand this page with more details of this politician's positions on ~~sceptical~~ issues?	+	Why not help us expand this page with more details of this politician's positions on skeptical issues?

	* [mailto:steve.brine.mp@parliament.uk E-Mail them] to ask for their opinions (and tell us about it by editing this page!)		* [mailto:steve.brine.mp@parliament.uk E-Mail them] to ask for their opinions (and tell us about it by editing this page!)

Skeptical Voter Wiki - Recent changes [en]

Steve Brine