Downing Street today insisted that David Cameron remains committed to gay marriage despite the Bill being left out of the Queen’s Speech for a second year running.
There was no mention in the Queen’s address to Parliament or in supporting documents spelling out the Government’s priorities, raising suspicions that the Prime Minister wants to lower the public profile of one of his most divisive measures.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was rejected by more than half of his MPs in a Commons vote in February and was widely blamed for an exodus of traditional Tory supporters to Ukip in last week’s council elections.
“This is becoming the Bill that dare not speak its name,” said Labour MP Stephen Pound. “The speech has Ukip’s footprints all over it.”
Downing Street said there was no need for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to be in the speech because it was a “carry-over” measure introduced midway through the last session.
However, the Energy Bill was listed despite being a carry-over measure — and the speech plugged issues such as easier mortgages and childcare that do not involve legislation.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister merely said: “There is no change in the position. It is an issue of conscience so there will be a free vote.”
And Benjamin Cohen, publisher of Pink News, said securing Royal Assent was what counted, adding: “The fact that David Cameron has spent so much political capital already shows the support of the Government for this Bill.”
Several other plans also failed to get an airing in the Queen’s address.
A Bill to enshrine the PM’s pledge to spend 0.7 per cent of earnings on overseas aid was dropped because of Tory anger that it has caused harsher cuts in other departments.
A long-awaited crackdown on Whitehall lobbyists was absent.
Measures to force the sale of cigarettes in plain wrappers was left out.
Plans to set a minimum price for alcohol in a bid to curb problem drinking were shelved after a Cabinet split.
A “snooper’s charter” enabling police to monitor internet communications was killed off by Nick Clegg.
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