Budget 2013: No tax break for married couples

The government will not introduce a tax break for married couples in next month's Budget, it has emerged.

There had been speculation David Cameron would bring in the measure to appease Tory backbenchers who are opposed to gay marriage.

According to the Times, the issue of gay marriage is causing Conservative members to leave the party in significant numbers.

Tory MP David Burrowes, who is against gay marriage, told Radio 4's Today programme that a tax break "may have softened the blow", but "wouldn't have been a clincher" in any deal to support gay marriage.

He added if the government's plans on gay marriage are voted through next week, they would "damage us all".