Gay Marriage Risk for British Conservatives?

With the UK's Conservative prime minister poised to embrace gay marriage, traditionalists say he might alienate his party's base

David Cameron risks upsetting the grassroots Conservative activists whose help he will need at the next general election if he presses ahead with plans to legalise gay marriage, the chairman of the party's National Convention warned today.

Emma Pidding, whose organisation represents volunteers within the party, said she was concerned about the possible impact on the Tory election campaign if the plans for same-sex marriage go ahead.

The Government launched a consultation on the proposals earlier this year, and Mr Cameron was last week reported to have told gay groups he was determined to push the change through by the time of the election in 2015.