FIONA Bruce is under fire for supporting a petition to block Government plans to allow gay couples to tie the knot.

The MP for Holmes Chapel, Goostrey and Cranage has defied her party by lending her name to the Coalition for Marriage.

Prime Minister David Cameron is urging his party to back proposals for same sex marriages by 2015.

Mrs Bruce, a mother-of-two, said: “This is not about being intolerant. Rather the opposite – in a tolerant society there should be room for us to accommodate a variety of relationships.

“The Coalition for Marriage is about giving people an opportunity to voice their view in support of the legal definition of marriage which has existed in this country for centuries – the voluntary union for life of a man and a woman.

“Marriage is a special relationship which has real and recognised value in terms of security and stability which goes beyond the parties to children, to the extended family, to the community and to wider society.

“The far-reaching consequences of this major issue are such that it cannot be right for a Government to put through such a change without full public debate.”

Knutsford Town Mayor Stewart Gardiner is in a civil partnership with Clr Simon Hutchence.

He said: “I am aware that Fiona has particularly deeply-held religious convictions, which I respect, and therefore I am not surprised by her decision.

“However her views are clearly at odds with the leadership and agreed policy of the Conservative Party.

“I do not believe that Fiona is alone in her position, but she is in the minority, albeit that 20 years ago she probably would have found her position to be in line with the majority of members within the Conservative Party.

“While Fiona may not wish me to have the right to marry my civil partner, I believe she has the right to hold and express a counter-position to me on this or any other matter.

“However I do not live within the Congleton constituency, and it is for Fiona’s constituents to decide whether or not this is an issue they would judge her performance as their MP.”

Andrew Jilliver, spokesman for The Lesbian & Gay Foundation, said the charity would be writing to Mrs Bruce to urge her to review her position.

He said: “Every MP has lesbian, gay and bisexual constituents, and is elected to represent the entire community.

“Civil partnerships were only supposed to be a stop-gap. I don’t believe an MP should make it difficult if they believe in equality.

“It’s not fair to treat people differently. People simply want the same rights to be happy and marry the partner they love.

“Society is changing faster than some people want it to, but elected representatives should be ahead of the curve on this.

“Sadly some people let their personal beliefs get in the way.”