Ukip will not repeal gay marriage but will move to bolster the notion of “reasonable accommodation” to protect those in the workplace that have religious objections, according to a mini-manifesto sneaked out via an anti-gay website on Tuesday. Outlined on Christian Concern, a socially conservative body that seeks to give Jesus a voice in government, the document said Ukip would legally protect people who express a religious conscience in the workplace by providing exemptions from anti-discrimination laws.
This would apply to cases such as the Belfast-based Ashers Bakery, which earlier this year refused to make a cake featuring an image of Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie below the motto 'Support Gay Marriage'. In a sop to the Godly, the manifesto reaffirmed the party’s opposition to same-sex marriage legislation because, they argue, it was "rushed through Parliament without proper debate.”
Tuesday's document was not circulated via the Ukip website, or distributed to the media. It said: "Ukip opposed same-sex marriage legislation because it impinged upon the beliefs of millions of people of faith. Rushed through Parliament without proper public debate, the legislation is significantly flawed. It should have been subject to a review of the state's role in marriage.”
It continued: "We will not repeal the legislation, as it would be grossly unfair and unethical to 'un-marry' loving couples or restrict further marriages, but we will not require churches to marry same-sex couples. We will also extend the legal concept of 'reasonable accommodation' to give protection in law to those expressing a religious conscience in the workplace on this issue."
Wihtin the manifesto, Farage claims: “Sadly, I think UKIP is the only major political party left in Britain that still cherishes our Judaeo-Christian heritage. I believe other parties have deliberately marginalised our nation’s faith, whereas we take Christian values and traditions into consideration when making policy."
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