A Conservative MP who is rumoured to be a hopeful of Tory leadership has said that despite his opposition to same-sex marriage, he would still attend a “gay wedding”.
Jacob Rees-Mogg caused controversy earlier this week after he appeared on Good Morning Britain and said that his Catholic beliefs stopped him from supporting marriage equality.
The MP for North-East Somerset has always stood against same sex marriage and while appearing on GMB he insisted it was only because he takes “the teachings of the Catholic Church seriously”.
“Marriage is a sacrament and the decision of what is a sacrament lies with the Church not with Parliament,” he added.
In the interview, he also said that he does not support abortion, even in extreme cases of rape.
Speaking about equal marriage to the Daily Mail, Rees-Mogg said that he would still go to a “gay wedding”.
He said: “I’ve never been invited to a gay wedding before, but I can’t see why I’d decline.
“It’s not for me to enforce my morals on others. If someone asked me to a drugs rave I’d refuse because it’s illegal.
“But gay weddings are legal. I wouldn’t get on my moral high horse. If I went, I hope I’d enjoy it.”
The back bencher also spoke about what he would do if one of his six children came out as LGBT+.
He insisted that he would support them no matter what.
“It’s not for me to judge. I’m sure the love I have for them would overcome anything.”
Harriet Harman, the Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham, called Rees-Mogg a “deadbeat dad” after it was revealed that he had never changed a nappy.
The former deputy leader of Labour made the comments while calling for a restructuring of the way that Parliament offers maternity leave.
“What model of fatherhood do we want parliament to portray? The ‘Rees-Mogg model’ or the modern father who – as well as the mother – is involved with a newborn,” Harman said.
