Tories to sink gay adoption reforms

Plans to allow gay couples to adopt are almost certain to be killed off next week after Iain Duncan Smith refused to change his party's hardline opposition to the proposal.

The Shadow Cabinet rejected pleas from more liberal frontbenchers to allow a free vote on the issue and decided to impose a three-line whip to ensure maximum discomfort for the Government.

The decision is a blow for Tory modernisers who wanted the party to demonstrate the more tolerant approach shown at the annual conference when Theresa May, the party chairman, and Mr Duncan Smith said the Tories had to change their image to have any hope of winning the next election.

But when the Adoption and Children Bill returns to the Commons next Monday, a "soft'' three-line whip will be in operation, allowing Shadow Cabinet members to be absent if they feel strongly that they cannot back the party line.

When a similar strategy was used in May, several members of the front bench stayed away, including Tim Yeo, who was shadow Culture Secretary, Damian Green, shadow Education Secretary, Peter Ainsworth, who was shadow Environment Secretary, and John Bercow, the current shadow Work and Pensions minister.

Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs ensured clauses extending adoption for married couples and single people to include cohabitees and gays and lesbians were approved overwhelmingly by the Commons.

But the changes were thrown out by the House of Lords earlier this month.With the parliamentary session ending on 7 November, the Bill will run out of time unless the Government agrees to ditch the controversial proposals.