9% of MPs highlight same-sex marriage as the Coalition’s most laudable achievement

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Same-sex marriage is seen as the third most laudable achievement of the Coalition Government, according to a survey of MPs.

When asked by Populus to name the single most laudable achievement of the Coalition Government, a third of MPs (33%) cited the economic recovery and the rise in employment.

One-in-ten MPs (10%) named welfare reform (rising to 20% among Conservative MPs), and 9% highlighted same-sex marriage.

The overall view obscures the division between views of Labour and Conservative MPs, Populus said.

It surveyed 104 MPs at the end of last year and the data was weighted to be politically representative of the House of Commons.

Two-thirds of Conservative MPs believe the most laudable achievement of the Coalition Government to be related to the economy.

Over half of Conservatives (55%) named economic recovery and the creation of jobs as the most laudable achievement, whilst 10% named deficit reduction.

A fifth of Labour MPs (22%) believe the legalisation of same-sex marriage is the most laudable achievement of the Coalition Government and 17% value most the protection of the international development budget.

However, 17% of Labour MPs could not name a single laudable achievement, whilst 6% suggest surviving five years is most worthy of mention.