Cameron faces Eastleigh test over same-sex marriage

THE EASTLEIGH by-election could be won and lost on the issue of gay marriage, with two candidates standing as Chris Huhne’s replacement in direct opposition to David Cameron’s SameSex Marriage Bill.

Kevin Milburn, The Christian Party, and Danny Stupple, an Independent, are competing to receive the support of voters who are similarly opposed to the redefinition of marriage.

Mr Stupple, who has lived in the constituency for nearly 30 years, has pinpointed the Prime Minister’s ‘deceit’ for the reason for his campaign.

The candidate said: “David Cameron has let us down,” criticising him for pushing the Bill through without a mandate, as the Bill was not in the Conservative Party’s manifesto.

Mr Stupple stands on a ticket for ‘integrity and independence’, promising constituents ‘real democracy, real freedom and real marriage’.

In his campaign leaflet Mr Stupple claims that: “Powerful party machines ride roughshod over the views of individuals and communities”.

An active member of his church and on the Street Pastor team for Eastleigh, Mr Stupple is urging voters to ‘make a stand’, which he believes will be ‘the bir th of new politics’.

The candidate said last week: “I think a lot of people feel let down, not only by our former local MP but by the whole political system. The complete disregard for proper process in the redefinition of marriage vote is indicative of the contempt for ordinary voters.

“Something as profound as marriage requires far more care than Mr Cameron or his Government have shown it.”

The Christian Party is ‘challenging Cameron’ with the ticket of Mr Milburn, a Prison Officer of 33 years, a Health Care Officer and a church leader.

Jeff Green, leader of the Christian Party said: “The Christian Party ‘Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship’ is delighted to have the opportunity to challenge David Cameron’s agenda in the Eastleigh by-election.

“If you vote for Kevin, you can send a very clear message to David Cameron and Nick Clegg that people are saying ‘Yes to integrity in politics’ and ‘Yes to traditional marriage’.”

The Christian Party says they will continue to stand candidates to ‘send the message loud and clear that Christians are on the move to recover the ground lost to the politically correct and intolerant secular establishment’.

The news of these candidates’ intention to stand comes in the same week as the Prime Minister is being warned that ‘committed Christians’ are planning to leave the party after the developments for the gay marriage bill this month.

Last year, 57 per cent of Christians said they would leave the Tories were such a Bill to be pushed through.

There are currently no statistics to show whether these predictions have been realised, but many see the Eastleigh by-election as a litmus test for the feeling among those of faith over the changes, and whether they will actually put those feelings into effect at the ballot box.

The by-election will be held on 28 February.