Gay marriage is not a priority

Many MPs are now blaming this slowly disintegrating marriage of inconvenience on a “third party” – a small, metropolitan elite that appears to be driving Mr Cameron’s policy agenda – while an aide to the Prime Minister reportedly accused grassroots Tories of being “mad, swivel-eyed loons”.

The irony is that same-sex weddings, a policy designed to make the Tories more appealing to contemporary society, could cost the Conservatives votes as the public become exasperated with those of Mr Cameron’s cohorts who have little respect for many of this country’s traditions, including marriage.

Yet, as the Commons prepares for a second day of deliberations on this issue, it is simply perpetuating the view that the Government is out of touch with the priorities of ordinary, hard-working families across Yorkshire.

On the doorsteps, or across the bar at those local hostelries which have withstood the downturn, gay marriage is not the primary source of conversation. Nor is the intricacies of any future referendum vote on EU membership, another old chestnut adding to the rift between Mr Cameron and his party. The main talking point is still the economy – and what can be done to create jobs and ease the cost of living – when families are being expected to pay more for diminished services.

Yet, after the House of Commons adjourns today for the Whit break, MPs are not due to return to Westminster until June 3. In some respects, the timing of this cooling off period provides a chance for Tories to remember that Mr Cameron is still the party’s best electoral asset and for Downing Street to acknowledge the need to extend policy-making beyond the Notting Hill and Eton cliques that are so favoured by the PM.

From the country’s perspective, common sense does need to prevail to prevent Labour being gifted the next election. The worry is that it rarely does when the Tory Party is in a position to press the self-destruct button.