ONE OF the biggest ever Tory rebellions could see up to 180 MPs, including ministers, abstain or vote against gay marriage at Westminster as David Cameron is urged to rethink his plans.

A spokesman for Scotland for Marriage said: "Ordinary men and women do not want to see the destruction of the concept in law of mother and father and changing the time-honoured essence of the family. Alex Salmond promised to protect the civil liberties of traditional marriage supporters, but for that to happen legal protections have to go beyond just churches and marriage celebrants."

Tom French, policy co-ordinator for the Equality Network, said: "Anti-gay campaigners will no doubt spend a lot of money on misinformation and scare tactics, but the large majority of people across Scotland support same-sex marriage."