Of all the parties across the political spectrum, the Conservative Party has always been seen as the one most likely to champion marriage and the family. Its very name points to tradition, the desire to conserve the best aspects of our civilisation and culture against whatever new “ism” threatens our way of life.

That seems no longer to be the case. The most recent evidence for this is the announcement by Theresa May that heterosexual couples who do not wish to marry can obtain all the fiscal benefits and protections of marriage if they enter into civil partnerships.