Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption BBC Two's Daily Politics

The leader of the Christian People's Alliance said storms in the UK could "possibly" have been caused by God's anger at gay marriage legislation.

"A lot of Christians believe that God is angry over gay marriage and God can actually show that anger," Sid Cordle told BBC Two's Daily Politics.

He was being quizzed about a local councillor expelled by UKIP in February for blaming the storms on gay marriage.

The CPA is contesting the European elections in selected areas.

It is fielding candidates in the east and south-east of England, and London.

The Christian People's Alliance began as a cross-party pressure group in the early 1990s, and began putting forward its own election candidates in 2000.

'Tremendous opportunity'

Mr Cordle said the party was needed because despite David Cameron's recent decision to speak about his Christian faith, "his government is not pursuing Christian policies".

The CPA campaigns for doctors to be given the right to refuse to carry out abortions and for traditional marriage and the family, among other issues. It also wants Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

In 2009, the party ran a combined list with the Christian Party in the European elections and gained 249,493 votes, or 1.65% of those cast.

Mr Cordle said this year's European elections represented a "tremendous opportunity for us" and predicted they would elect their first MEP.

He told the Daily Politics: "There are an enormous number of Christians that have left the Conservative Party over the issue of same-sex marriage, sadly too many of them have gone to UKIP.

"But I think they are beginning to find UKIP doesn't provide a natural home for Christians."

Asked if the party would welcome votes from gay people, he said: "We don't judge people because of their lifestyle. We are not against people. It's the principles on which we stand."

Asked about Henley-on-Thames councillor David Silvester, expelled by UKIP for blaming the floods on gay marriage, he said: "I think the way he said it was completely wrong."

But he added: "All Christians believe that God does and can do things with nature."

If Mr Silvester had said he thought it was possible that an angry God had caused the storms, Mr Cordle added: "I would certainly agree with that - it is possible."