Northern Ireland says No to homosexual marriage
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson A Conservative cabinet minister has declared his opposition to same-sex marriage in the most significant challenge yet to reform plans backed by the prime minister. Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson made clear his hostility to the change in a letter to a constituent, seen by the PoliticsHome website. "Having considered this matter carefully, I am afraid I have come to the decision not to support gay marriage," he wrote in response to an appeal for support. David Cameron has personally championed the change, which is out for public consultation, but is under pressure from backbench Tories to drop the move. Defence secretary Philip Hammond said recently that it was "not a priority" for the government after the Liberal Democrat policy was blamed by some for poor local election results. His Cabinet colleague went further, expressing direct opposition. In a letter dated last week, Mr Paterson sa