Liam Fox has used the oldest trick in the book – a letter to a concerned constituent – to slam David Cameron’s gay marriage plans:

“I do not believe this is simply an anti-discrimination measure. If it were, it would carry much greater support in a nation whose greatest characteristic is its fairness. This smacks of a form of social engineering of which Conservatives should be instinctively wary. I do not doubt the sincerity of the proponents of this measure and think talk of attempts to purposefully antagonise traditional Conservatives is far-fetched. However, I believe these proposals are divisive, ill thought through and constitutionally wrong. That is why I will vote against them in the House of Commons.”

Here is a copy of the letter:

Just last night Osborne, Shapps and Grayling were chinwagging with the former Defence Secretary at his New Year drinks.

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