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# YouGov poll shows 55% of the public support gay marriage
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/yougov-poll-shows-55-of-the-public-support-gay-marriage/
- Published: 2012-12-17T02:48:38.000Z
- Updated: 2012-12-17T02:49:55.000Z
- Description: A majority (55%) of the British public support changing the law to allow same-sex marriage, but Conservative voters are divided on the issue with 46% in favour, 48% opposed and the rest who say they don’t know. The poll comes amidst a declaration by Ukip leader Nigel Farage that the Prime Minister’s
- Author: Besi
- Tags: News

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/yougov-logo.jpg "YouGov-logo")

A majority (55%) of the British public support changing the law to allow same-sex marriage, but Conservative voters are divided on the issue with 46% in favour, 48% opposed and the rest who say they don’t know. The poll comes amidst a declaration by Ukip leader Nigel Farage that the Prime Minister’s decision to legalise gay marriage would *“rip apart”* the Conservative Party.

Meanwhile, 60% of Labour voters support same-sex marriage, and an overwhelming 77% of Liberal Democrats are in favour of the change.

There was also a considerable divide between men and women on the issue, with only 48% of men in support of same-sex marriage (43% are opposed) compared to 62% support amongst women (28% are opposed).

The government recently announced a proposal to legalise same-sex marriage, but the Church of England and Church in Wales will be exempted from performing same-sex wedding ceremonies. Other religious institutions will be able to *“opt-in”* to holding same-sex weddings if they so choose.

According to the poll, 45% of the public support changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry in registry offices and licenced venues, but keep religious weddings in churches to those between a man and a woman, while 41% oppose this approach and 14% say they don’t know.

Meanwhile, 53% say they support giving churches the choice of whether or not to offer same-sex marriages, while 37% oppose this and 10% don’t know.

When asked what is more important, the right of same-sex couples to get married or the right of churches to keep religious marriages to those between men and women, a plurality say that the right of churches should take priority, but a substantial proportion are unsure.

• 27% say the right of same-sex couples to get married is most important  
• 46% say the right of churches to keep religious marriages to those between men and women is most important  
• 27% say they are either unsure or don’t know  

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/head11.jpg "head1")

Joe Twynam

**Commenting on the poll, YouGov Director of Political and Social Research Joe Twyman, said:**

> *“All of the recent polling we have done on this issue has found that a majority of the British public support the right of same-sex couples to have full equal marriage. However, dig a little deeper and we can see that Conservative voters remain more divided on this issue, with a slightly higher proportion who are opposed.*  
>  
> *Ukip has already pledged to seek the votes of those who abandon the Conservatives over the issue, and so the government’s decision to plough ahead with same-sex marriage legislation could very well intensify divisions within the party over the coming weeks.”*