One in three voters believes that David Cameron has undermined Christianity in this country and 50 per cent think that marriage should be defined as an “exclusive commitment” between a man and a woman, a new poll has shown.
The ComRes poll comes ahead of the local and European Parliament elections this week.
Colin Hart, director of The Christian Institute, which commissioned the poll, said Christians had been “marginalised” and the poll should act as a “wake-up call” to Mr Cameron.
Religious freedom
When it comes to religious freedom in Britain, fewer than one in five believe that Cameron has improved it.
The ComRes survey of over 2,000 people also found that over four in ten agree that the Church of England will be forced to conduct same-sex marriages “irrespective” of what the views of individual church ministers are.
More people agreed than disagreed that same-sex marriage is different to traditional marriage.
Exclusive commitment
Of those voting Liberal Democrat in the European elections 52 per cent agree with the above statement while the figure rises to 58 per cent amongst Conservative voters.
Half of the respondents also agree that marriage should be defined as a lifelong, exclusive commitment between a man and a woman, according to the poll. Only 37 per cent disagree.
The response varied across European election voters – 61 per cent of Tory voters agree, as do 74 per cent of UKIP voters and 64 per cent of 2010 Conservative voters.
Social progress
Most respondents also agree that children have the best chance in life if raised by a mother and father who are in a committed, permanent relationship.
In December, a former High Court Judge spoke of the benefits of marriage for “nurturing children”.
Sir Paul Coleridge said: “Far from being old-fashioned, marriage is an engine for social progress, the most effective structure ever invented for nurturing children and building social solidarity.”