AG Waring, of Mill Lane, Frogmore, writes:

I have to agree with Dorothy Marshman, Letters, February 15, who I feel sure echoes the thoughts of many with regard to our elected representatives.

How can it be democratic for any government to introduce legislation which, in addition to being extremely controversial, has never featured in any pre-election manifesto?

The fact is that the Bill calling for 'same sex marriage' was born of European initiative, namely the requirement to comply with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights; so much for our independence !

The Government's proposals have nothing to do with equality – as claimed – but everything to do with the redefinition of marriage which no administration has the right to alter.

Real marriage between a man and a woman matters because of children, because children matter and for their well-being the institution of true marriage deserves to be recognised and supported by all.

The family, which is universally acknowledged as the best environment in which to raise children, is the basic unit of society; destroy it and you destroy society, a fact of which David Cameron et al seem to be unaware in spite of all the supporting evidence.

The so-called safeguards for churches are not worth the paper they're written on and what about conscience? What are teachers supposed to impart to their pupils and what penalties lie in store for them and anyone who disagrees with the policy?

The next general election should be very interesting and I suspect very disappointing for all three major parties because, if people feel so strongly about this issue, they probably won't bother to vote unless independent candidates and the Christian People's Alliance are standing.