A Conservative candidate has criticised the “bigots” behind an election leafleting campaign that portrayed her support for equal marriage as a reason to vote against her.
Dr Sarah Wollaston, who is defending the seat of Totnes, tweeted a picture of a leaflet from the Coalition for Marriage, which urged her constituents to “use your vote for true marriage”.
'Coalition for marriage' are stuffing these through letter boxes in my area. Thanks bigots, I'm proud of that vote! pic.twitter.com/pwTpcOXOsO
— Sarah Wollaston (@sarahwollaston) April 20, 2015
The leafleting campaign targeted candidates identifed as supporters or proponents of equal marriage.
Tory Anna Soubry and the Green party’s Caroline Lucas, who are defending their seats in Broxtowe and Brighton, were also identified as supporters of same-sex unions in leaflets, while Tory Craig Whittaker, bidding to retain the seat of Calder Valley, was the subject of a leaflet celebrating him as an opponent of equal marriage, which became law in March 2014.
Coalition For Marriage trying to influence votes in the general election. I wonder where their vote is going? #GE2015 pic.twitter.com/ixFfnAZwtd
— Carey (@CareyHadgraft) April 17, 2015
Useful in deciding how to place my vote, indeed (and not in the way the Coalition for Marriage, so called, hope). pic.twitter.com/pOdttxXbVv
— Jo Kershaw (@mthr_jo) April 17, 2015
@c4mtweets Coalition for Marriage misunderstanding the voting population of #Brighton #WeKnow @CarolineLucas pic.twitter.com/PQR6nsuTaV
— CRAIG's CONTINUUM (@CraigsContinuum) April 15, 2015
Wollaston and Lucas said the campaign had backfired.
“I was privileged in parliament to vote for same-sex marriage and I did so on behalf of my constituents who were overwhelmingly behind it,” Lucas told the Guardian.
“I’m not very surprised this campaign appears to have fallen rather flat here and there’s been some suitably creative defiance from a brilliantly vibrant and inclusive city.”
The Coalition for Marriage said it was not prepared to disclose which constituencies it was targeting or how many leaflets would be distributed through the election campaign.
“The Coalition for Marriage is fully engaged in the democratic process by highlighting the voting record of members of parliament on the important issue of the redefinition of marriage,” campaigns director Colin Hart said.
“This was done with little or no consultation, was not in any of the main parties manifestos and has many serious consequences which we are seeing now.”
