Gay marriages vote gives Cam a bashing

PM's stand scares off Tories AND new voters

Gay marriage ... debate continues

DAVID Cameron has been badly damaged by the gay marriage row, a Sun poll reveals today.

The PM’s bid to project a trendy new image has alienated millions of voters, including Tories.

Both supporters AND opponents of same-sex nuptials say they see his party in a worse light than before.

And two-thirds believe the Conservatives are now a divided party, according to the exclusive YouGov poll.

Mr Cameron hoped extending gay rights would help shed the Tories’ “nasty party” image.

But the gamble has backfired with 134 of his MPs — over half — refusing to back him.

 

One in four say they now think worse of the Tories. Among under-40s the figures are more positive for the PM, with a third saying they admire him more for his stand.

But 38 per cent of traditional Tory voters now take a dimmer view of their leader.

It means Mr Cameron is losing existing support AND the new voters he needs to win the 2015 general election.

Among voters generally, 36 per cent think he has not done enough to modernise the Tories.

And while just over half — 52 per cent — support legalising same-sex unions, many believe the Government has more important issues to deal with.

 

 The top priority should be the economy, 56 per cent said, followed by immigration, the NHS and unemployment.

Only five per cent think gay rights is most important.

YouGov’s Anthony Wells said: “David Cameron’s support for gay marriage has pleased as many people as it has upset.

“But the row has delivered a knock to the wider party.”

A Labour source said last night: “The Tory party is still hopelessly divided because David Cameron has failed to modernise it.”

The Tories are behind Labour in the race for No10, the poll shows, with 31 per cent backing Ed Miliband’s party and 29 per cent Mr Cameron’s team.

d.wooding@the-sun.co.uk