"They are socially conservative and want to reduce the time limit for abortion to 22 weeks or lower. Most of them want tax breaks which discriminate in favour of marriage. But the Conservative class of 2010 - David Cameron's likely intake of MPs if he wins the next general election - are prepared to wait for tax cuts and regard Europe as a far less divisive issue than their predecessors, an exclusive survey of Tory candidates reveals today."
The Guardian publishes its own survey of Tory candidates today. Its sample is considerably smaller than ConservativeHome's survey (the key results of which are here). The Guardian quotes a number of Tory candidates. Here are some of the key observations when it comes to the tax treatment of married couples and others:
"It's not about giving married couples extra benefits... But at the moment they are being penalised under the current government. Civil partnerships should be treated equally too." - Deborah Dunleavy, Bolton North West
"Would you prefer to be a single mum with a series of failed relationships with males, in preference to having a stable settled relationship with one man for the rest of your life? We seem to be championing the fact that it's all right to be accepting the second best route at the moment." - Philip Milton, Devon North
"There are huge problems coming from single-parent families. Promoting marriage, which offers an extra £1,000 per household, per year: a lot of people would go in for that in my constituency." - Jeremy Moulton, Southampton Test
""I do think that parents raising children should be treated equally alongside those that are married. I don't think being married should be the only option. Clearly we have moved on since the 1950s." - Goto Bebb, Aberconwy
""It shouldn't be the government's responsibility to dictate to people how they live their lives, so long as it is legal ... I was brought up by my mother. She and my father divorced but he was always there." - Ken Andrew
On abortion and marriage the ConHome and Guardian surveys produced very similar results. One area of notable difference comes on green taxation:
- The Guardian's finding: "66% of the candidates told the Guardian they supported the party on green taxes as long as Osborne stands by his commitment that they will not increase the overall tax burden. But 32% were unconvinced by the taxes, which are designed to curb pollution, and some candidates said they would hit the poor."
- ConHome: "40% agreed with 'Higher taxation of cars and airlines, offset by lower taxation of families'. 52% disagreed."
The explanation for the difference may be in the phrasing of the question.
