Letter: Better gay than wed

Sir: I was astonished by your report 'Suspected gay MPs face pressure to marry' (15 February). Voters, I would suggest, object not to politicians' sexuality but to their hypocrisy. The Tory whips' office might like to consider the fact that Chris Smith, MP, attracts a lot of support here in Islington (mine included) from voters who are not particularly happy with his politics but admire not only his excellent work as a constituency MP but also his honesty and integrity in 'coming out'.

Or, as the normally very right-wing landlord of my local put it during the last general election, when explaining why he was voting for Chris Smith: 'At least we know he's honest and he's got guts, which is more than you can say for most politicians.' I don't think a gay MP who entered into a marriage of convenience in order to hide his sexuality would attract quite the same support.

Yours faithfully,

STEPHEN GLYNN

London, N1

15 February