It was disappointing to read the statement by Law Society president John Wotton expressing, in thoroughly ‘right-on’ terms, the official Society line that it is supporting gay marriage.

It is obvious that the question of changing the law, on such an important social institution as marriage, is quintessentially a political issue on which lawyers, as citizens, quite properly will have a range of views. It follows that it is totally inappropriate for the Society to take a partisan political position on this question - or indeed on any question.

Robin Tilbrook, Tilbrook’s, Ongar