Back in October Peter Luff, MP for Mid Worcestershire, launched his first ever online survey on the controversial issue of same sex marriage. The survey closed at the end of November with two hundred and thirty people taking part in the survey that asked participants for their views on whether the Government should bring in new legislation to allow same sex couples to get married.
The survey showed that the overwhelming majority of participants (80%) supported the idea of a legal commitment for same sex couples and only 15% said that there should be no civil partnerships at all.
Thirty two per cent of those surveyed said that they believed the current civil partnership arrangements for same sex couples who wish to commit to each other were adequate. But, taken together 46% said that the current civil partnerships don’t go far enough (13%), that same sex couples should be offered more rights (11%) or that they would like them to be replaced with same sex marriages (22%).
The survey also highlighted how opinion varied on this subject depending on the participant’s age. Those under 40 were almost unanimous in their support for the introduction of same sex marriage, whereas all those over 65 were against its introduction.
Commenting on the survey results Peter said,
“The survey has shown that the overwhelming majority of people support the idea that same sex couples can have serious and meaningful relationships in a legal partnership. This illustrates the decline in intolerance towards homosexual people.
“Another important result of this survey, although one I had anticipated, is the overwhelming support of the younger participants for the introduction of same sex marriage. This policy will affect younger people directly who are forming and will form new relationships under any new legislation that is passed, so their views are particularly significant.
“With a smaller participation rate for young people, who support same sex marriage, and a larger participation rate from older people, who tend to oppose it, the overall result is quite close at 45% supporting and 54% opposing the idea. A more even participation rate would probably have produced a majority in support of same sex marriage.
“I am very pleased that I decided to do the survey and that so many people took the time to complete it. Taken together with the many letters, emails and conversations I have had on this sensitive topic, it has given me a real insight into my constituents’ views and it has played an important part in helping me shape my own views on it. I will make a statement on how I will vote shortly.”