A senior Tory county councillor says he was disappointed that a number of his ballot papers were spoiled by voters opposed to changing the law on gay marriage.
The Conservative politician, who did not wish to be named, was re-elected in Thursday's Leicestershire County Council election and saw that a number of voters had written that they were against gay marriage by his name on the paper rather than casting a vote.
A bill on gay marriage is currently going through Parliament but Prime Minister David Cameron is being urged to ditch it by some traditional grass roots Tories.
They believe UKIP's success in many of the recent local election was, in part, due to the Prime Minister's support for equal marriage.
The Leicestershire councillor said: "Some people wrote "No to gay marriage" on the papers that I saw. I think that is a shame.
"I understand it is a big step for a lot of Conservatives and it may have pushed them away from the party but personally I am a supporter of gay marriage.
"I hope Cameron does not give in to the pressure and abandon this because it is the right thing to do."
