Military chaplains who do not support same-sex marriage could be dismissed under Government plans, a former Defence Minister has warned. 
Sir Gerald Howarth, who served as a Defence Minister until September this year, made his concerns known in a letter to Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.
Sir Gerald cautioned that a chaplain who was also a Church of England minister could be “disciplined or dismissed” for preaching in support of traditional marriage.
Mr Hammond “asked for advice” upon receiving the letter, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said.
Both Sir Gerald and Mr Hammond have previously expressed reservations about the Government?s plan to bring in same-sex marriage.
In his letter the former Defence Minister adapted an example from a legal opinion which warned of the wide ranging possible implications of the Government redefining marriage.
In the opinion Aidan O’Neill QC cautioned that NHS chaplains who preach about traditional marriage in church could be disciplined under diversity policies, even if they were off duty at the time.
Sir Gerald warned that a similar situation could occur for army chaplains.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has come under fire for his suggestion that same-sex marriage could help the Tories win the next election.
He made the claim in a piece in the London Times on Tuesday.
However The Daily Express and The Daily Telegraph attacked Mr Osborne’s stance. The Express called him a “part-time Chancellor” and said long-time Conservatives are “fed up seeing their party?s leadership trampling on their beliefs”.
The Daily Telegraph said Mr Osborne was playing a “dangerous game” and picking a “needless fight with social conservatives”.
Polls show the Tories could lose up to 30 seats and over 1 million votes if they push ahead with redefining marriage.
Tory backbencher Stewart Jackson said: “The focus should be less on these social liberal obsessions of West London and more on blue-collar issues like the cost of living, mortgages and reducing taxes for families.
“The social liberal values of Notting Hill don?t translate well outside the M25.”
