The Conservative added that his constituents didn’t appear to be interested in the issue.

“I’ve received 18 emails about this and a few letters,” he said.

“On some issues, like the NHS, I get hundreds of letters.”

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman agreed that voters weren’t concerned about the matter.

“I’ve had very little correspondence on gay marriage,” said the Labour man.

Mr Sheerman believes there is no need to legalise same-sex marriage.

“My friends and colleagues who are part of the gay community don’t seem to be emphasising this,” he said.

“They say that they have the rights to live a full and equal role in society.

“I think we should listen to the arguments on this and see how we go but I don’t take an ideological view.

“I’m an active Christian and I don’t have a particular stance on this issue.

“At the moment I don’t see a great pressure to go beyond civil partnerships”.