'No need' for gay marriage bill

Tensions within the Conservative Party will be reignited later when a bill to allow marriage between couples of the same sex in England and Wales returns to the Commons.

It received overwhelming backing the last time it was debated, though it was opposed by nearly half of all Tory MPs and some Labour MPs.

The Conservative MP, David Burrowes, has tabled amendments that are to be debated. He told the Today programme's Sarah Montague that he was not happy with the bill in its current form.

"I don't think there is a need. We have civil partnerships that provide effective legal rights to those of married couples.

"What we are going to do is undermine the value of marriage and also undermine freedom to speak out for those registrars to act according to their conscience and not have to perform same sex marriages, for teachers to not have to promote or endorse same sex marriage," he said.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday 20 May 2013.