David Cameron has defended equal marriage in England and Wales against criticism from Tory leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom.

The Prime Minister said he is “extremely proud” of same-sex marriage in England and Walesresponding to comments by Mrs Leadsom criticising the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.

Earlier this week she said: “I think we’ve muddled the terms of marriage, civil partnership, church, registry office… I would have liked that to have been clarified.

“I didn’t really like the legislation, that was the problem, but I support gay marriage.”

Mr Cameron said from the NATO summit in Warsaw: “So many people have taken advantage of it and there is now an enormous parliamentary majority for equal marriage.

“I am confident it will continue to be the case.

“It’s also being copied all over the world and Britain was one of the first countries with a centre-right leaning government to take that step and many others are following suit. I’m very proud of that.”

The Prime Minster said he would stay on as MP for Witney, adding: “All other decisions and anything else I do will come a bit later.”

Mrs Leadsom has said this week that she “doesn’t like” the legislation that brought about equal marriage and would have preferred it if gay couples only had civil partnerships.

The MP for South Northamptonshire, had ‘positively abstained’ on the issue in 2013, voting both for and against same-sex marriage.

She was earlier this week linked to a ‘gay cure’ group in Uganda.

Theresa May has maintained a commanding lead in the race to succeed David Cameron as Prime Minister – with Justice Secretary Michael Gove eliminated from the running by Mrs Leadsom.

But a new poll by the leave.eu campaign suggests that Mrs Leadsom could be winning more support than her rival.

Here is how the two remaining candidates stand on equality issues.