Sir – Marriage has been a good institution that has been around for centuries. Who are we to decide to change it? As it stands, civil partnerships are already in place for same sex relationships. Marriage defined ‘as the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife’ (http://oxforddictionaries.com/ definition/marriage) has been part of our heritage for centuries.

This country was founded on Christian principles and we used to be a Christian missionary-sending-nation that espoused these values. Have we forgotten the foundations that this country has been built upon?

Samantha Mandrup, Headington