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Today's top features on ConservativeHome ToryDiary: Autumn Statement means less funding for Defence - and potential Budget rebellions from Tory MPs ConservativeIntelligence: A report of Lord Lamont's reflections on the Autumn Statement Christopher Howarth on Comment: Banking Union could lead to a permanent sidelining of Britain in the Single Market Adam Afriyie MP on Thinkers' Corner reflects on wealth creation John Bald on Local government: Formal English - an argument that must be won Today's newslinks Cameron backs gay weddings in churches... "David Cameron has given his backing to gay weddings in churches in a move that puts him on direct collision course with the established Church. The Church of England, which last month rejected women bishops despite more than seven in ten members of the General Synod voting in favour, accused him of “divisive” proposals that will “change the nature of marriage for everyone.”" - Times (£) > Coverage from yesterday: ToryDiary: If Cameron lets churches conduct same-sex marriages, what happens to those that refuse? WATCH: Let me be 100% clear, says David Cameron, no church or mosque will be forced to hold a gay wedding ...but a large number of Tory MPs - and Lords - are ready to revolt on the issue "Letters to constituents passed to The Daily Telegraph suggest that at least 130 Tory MPs are preparing to vote against the plans. It is understood that the change was triggered by Government legal advice that a complete prohibition would be vulnerable to legal challenge and open the way for further challenges against the Church of England and others." - Daily Telegraph | Guardian "David Cameron has been warned that plans to let same-sex couples marry in churches will be "massacred" in the House of Lords and alienate grassroots Conservatives. ... Lord Carey, the former Archbishop, said here was a real possibility that the bill could be defeated in the Lords." - Daily Telegraph Maria Miller: Gay marriage is a small evolutionary change, not a radical step "For me, far from being a radical departure, this is simply one more in a long line of reforms which have strengthened marriage, ensuring it remains a modern and vibrant institution. Over the coming weeks and months I will continue to work closely with faith and other interested groups on how best to implement our plans." - Maria Miller for the Daily Telegraph UK on triple-dip recession alert after industrial slowdown - Guardian UK economy: the problem sectors - Guardian Matthew Parris: The worse it gets for the British economy... the better it gets for Tory re-election prospects "Mr Osborne’s best hopes of winning the general election in 2015 lie in continuing austerity, the continuing postponement of hopes for growth, and national anxiety. On Wednesday he promised economic recovery. But his best hope of victory in 2015 would lie in its failure to arrive. Depression here and across Europe, further and seemingly indefinite postponements to economic success and a near-permanent atmosphere of crisis and danger could serve the Tories well in two and a half years’ time." - Matthew Parris for the Times (£) Britain needs another grand vision tailored to what it can afford - Janan Ganesh for the FT (£) Strivers are still being short-changed - Patrick O'Flynn for theDaily Express David Cameron must adapt to the times, but he risks ignoring what is truly important - Charles Moore from the Daily Telegraph > Today - ConservativeIntelligence: A report of Lord Lamont's reflections on the Autumn Statement > Yesterday -  ToryDiary: The voters give their verdict on the economy: The Coalition is rubbish but Labour would be even worse Columnist Bruce Anderson: In austere times the winning politicians will be the ones who tell the truth LISTEN: George Osborne wasn't the only Treasury minister who battled with BBC presenters over the Autumn Statement Tory MPs plan to fight Defence cuts "Conservative MPs are preparing to do battle with George Osborne in the run-up to next year’s spending review over defence spending, which they argue should not be cut while spending on aid, schools and the NHS is protected. Several Tory backbenchers told the Financial Times they will not accept further cuts to the Ministry of Defence" - FT (£) Hammond faces defence budgets fight -FT (£) > Today on ToryDiary: Autumn Statement means less funding for Defence - and potential Budget rebellions from Tory MPs > Yesterday - Columnist Andrew Lilico: With £27bn more cuts to find, something's gotta give. Why not the NHS ringfence? Owen Paterson: We want our country back from Europe "On Britain and the EU, he points out his views are well known. Certainly, he is counted among those around the Cabinet table who would opt for the exit... Far from Britain leaving the EU, it will be the EU leaving Britain. “If in order to resolve the Euro crisis there has to be this new arrangement that’s effectively creating a new country … from which we’re excluded, [then] we want to get our country back which means making our laws in our own Parliament.”" - Owen Paterson interview with the Daily Telegraph > Today - Christopher Howarth on Comment: Banking Union could lead to a permanent sidelining of Britain in the Single Market > Yesterday on Local government: Pickles warns of new EU rules to cause planning delays West Coast fiasco report is "damning", Patrick McLoughlin says  "Spending cuts, sackings, poor planning, ineffective oversight and a decision to fast-track the award of the most lucrative long-distance rail contract conspired to wreck the West Coast Main Line competition, a damning report found yesterday. Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, admitted that the report from Sam Laidlaw, his department’s non-executive director, made uncomfortable reading. He told Parliament: “There was a damning failure by the department and that must be put right.”" -Times (£) David Willetts to announce £600m investment in British science "Technology capable of turning human excrement into fuel, and stem cell researchers attempting to cure paralysis are to benefit from a £600 million package of investment in British science. A new medicine manufacturing plant will also be built in an attempt to dissuade major pharmaceutical companies from mass-producing British-made drugs in Asia... David Willetts, the Science Minister, said that the Government’s aim was to turn Britain into “the best place in the world to do science”." - Times (£) Oliver Letwin, David Cameron's brainbox, boasts a CV of clever fixes... and not to mention a few screw-ups - Guardian interview Tories sought donors' cash to fight Lib Dem mansion tax "The Conservative party privately sent letters to Tory donors and wealthy homeowners promising to defeat Liberal Democrat plans for a mansion tax at the same time as their coalition partners thought they were negotiating on a version of the proposal ahead of the autumn statement, it emerged on Friday." - Guardian New technology means Britain and the U.S. could tap undreamed reserves of gas and oil - Nigel Lawson for the Daily Mail Nadine Dorries may still have the whip suspended until next year "Nadine Dorries will be left to sweat over her political future after the Tories said that they would not rule on restoring the whip until next year. The former nurse... will meet members of her local Conservative association in the next few days to discuss her disappearance to the jungle." - Times (£) Tory heartlands suffer biggest cuts to child benefit - Daily Telegraph Danny Alexander: "Multinationals must pay their taxes here — it’s not an option" "That, he says, must include large multinationals. Starbucks bowed to consumer pressure this week and announced that it would increase its tax contributions and the Chief Secretary insists that other businesses must follow suit. “Complying with the UK tax system is not an optional extra,” he says. “A multinational company can’t just decide whether or not to engage with the UK tax system. It’s an obligation. Companies need to pay the tax they are supposed to pay, full stop. End of story.”" - Times (£) interview with Danny Alexander Isle of Man to help Britain tackle tax evasion - Guardian George Osborne in expense claim for paddock - Independent Disabled challenge minister over job support boast - Independent Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes faces probe over donation "The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is to consider whether the MP breached rules by failing to fully declare a £10,000 donation received by his local party in south London." - BBC The SNP flip-flop on automatic membership of the EU "Alex Salmond’s opponents have accused the SNP of retreating from its long-standing position that an independent Scotland would have automatic membership of the European Union. ... This week it emerged that European officials had signalled that a newly independent nation would have to reapply for EU membership." -Scotsman Alex Salmond lobbied statesmen to back Lockerbie bomber's release - Daily Telegraph Scotland’s brand image damaged -Scotsman Tories book place at the table for Salmond’s panel on press standards - Scotsman Riots erupt in Belfast hours after Hillary Clinton condemns violence -Guardian Qatar seeks to extend Kyoto to break climate change deadlock -Reuters Royal Mail plans to cut compensation limit for "normal" post - Daily Telegraph Yesterday's highlights on ConservativeHome ToryDiary: If Cameron lets churches conduct same-sex marriages, what happens to those that refuse? The voters give their verdict on the economy: The Coalition is rubbish but Labour would be even worse Columnist Andrew Lilico: With £27bn more cuts to find, something's gotta give. Why not the NHS ringfence? Lord Ashcroft on Comment: My inspirational night as a judge at the “Millies” LeftWatch: Ed Miliband kept "boring my ear off" and "pestering me for a picture" Local government: Council byelection results from yesterday Barnet Council to save £12 million a year on back office costs MEDIA: George Osborne wasn't the only Treasury minister who battled with BBC presenters over the Autumn Statement...  "You've really got to get your facts right before you bring me on," Sajid Javid MP told Five Live reporters. Continuing: "I'm shocked. You guys just haven't been briefed." Let me be 100% clear, says David Cameron, no church or mosque will be forced to hold a gay wedding Why are we spending £2 billion on windfarms in Africa? Nigel Farage gives extended interview to BBC Breakfast.