PM slaps down Andrea Leadsom with warning not to try to reverse gay marriage law

DAVID Cameron has slapped down Tory leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom with a warning not to try to reverse his landmark gay marriage law.

The Energy Minister is a strong Christian and a well known opponent of the controversial 2013 legal change.

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Mrs Leadsom spoke out against it again this week to insist it was wrong to enforce gay marriage on churches, leading to suspicion she may try to repeal the law if she defeats Theresa May for the Tory crown.

The PM’s outburst on his RAF flight to a NATO summit in Warsaw draws him into the bitter fight over who will replace him in No10 for the first time.

Mr Cameron insisted that any attempt by his successor to ban gay people from marrying again will fail because MPs would vote the bid down.

Mr Cameron said: "On equal marriage, I'm extremely proud of it and so many people have taken advantage of it.

“I think there's now an enormous parliamentary majority for equal marriage so I'm confident that it will continue to be the case".

The PM went on: "It's also very popular all over the world.

“Britain was one of the first countries with a centre-right leaning government to take that step and many others are following suit and I'm very proud of that.”

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His comments come despite him again pledging to stay out of the Tory leadership shoot-out between Mrs Leadsom and the Home Secretary.

When he announced his resignation on No10’s steps two weeks ago after losing the EU referendum, Mr Cameron dubbed the equality law one of his proudest achievements in six years of office.

But he also insisted: “As for any questions about the leadership election, I did not vote, I will not speak, I will not play any part, and I will support the decision of my colleagues in the party whoever they choose".

Despite a major backbench Tory revolt, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act was passed in July 2013.

It came into force on 13 March 2014.