The national debate surrounding the redefinition of marriage “wasn’t particularly needed”, Nigel Farage has said.
Farage also stated that it would be “wrong” for churches to be forced to conduct same-sex marriages.
The leader of UKIP was responding to questions on London’s LBC Radio last Friday when he made the comments.
Not needed
Asked for his views on same-sex marriage, Farage said that it was “an argument and a fight” that was “not particularly needed”.
He also noted that homosexual lobby group Stonewall had not called for its introduction.
Farage expressed a “big concern” that under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights, we face a “very real risk” that churches may be forced to conduct same-sex marriages.
Wrong
He added: “I think if the churches and the faith communities were forced to conduct gay marriages against their will, that would be wrong.”
Last year, a statement on the UKIP website affirmed civil partnerships but rejected redefining marriage saying “Gay marriage is an entirely different thing altogether”.
Earlier this month, the UKIP leader described Britain as a Judeo-Christian country and stressed that “We have been too weak” in defending our Christian values.
Membership
The introduction of same-sex marriage has been blamed for a decline in Conservative Party membership ahead of the next General Election.
Annual reports for some local associations showed an average membership drop of ten per cent across constituencies in 2013. At least 15 associations attributed the fall to gay marriage or unhappiness with national decisions.