The right-wing and religious ministers who make up the bulk of his coalition government can scarcely believe his luck.

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That would include amending the 2010 Equality Act to ensure no discrimination claim can be brought against religious organisations or individual ministers for refusing to marry a same-sex couple.

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Over Easter, several ministers will be seen taking part in religious processions.

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This week Scottish ministers announced that prosecutors will have to tell courts if religious sectarianism is an element in a crime.

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Ministers said any changes would "fully respect" the rights of religious organisations who did not want to carry out same-sex ceremonies.

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Those who do not support the referendum, and have even threatened to boycott or oppose it, include the two main political parties (the People's Party led by Benazir Bhutto and the Pakistan Muslim League of Nawaz Sharif, both former prime ministers), a six-strong group of the country's leading religious parties and organisations, and all major associations of lawyers and students.

ECONOMIST: Pakistan

The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said Archbishop Welby's comments would be interpreted as a rebuke to ministers.

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One of the principal achievements of the Musharraferendum has been to forge a tactical alliance between two of Pakistan's bitterest enemies, both former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, as well as between the secular parties and moderate religious ones such as Jamaat-e-Islami, who usually despise each other.

ECONOMIST: Pakistan

The Times religious affairs correspondent Ruth Gledhill told the BBC the announcement could prompt "hundreds, possibly thousands" of lay ministers to follow the bishops' example.

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