Nick Clegg withdraws "bigot" comments aimed at gay marriage opponents NICK Clegg was left red-faced tonight after being forced to withdraw comments in which he branded opponents of gay marriage "bigots." Deputy Prime Minister's speech was to feature remarks aimed at opponents of gay marriage Pre-released extracts withdrawn after complaints and criticism Ministerial aides claim early draft of speech accidentally released The Deputy Prime Minister was expected to launch an outspoken attack on opponents of the policy in a speech at a reception later. Extracts released early by officials said: "Continued trouble in the economy gives the bigots a stick to beat us with, as they demand we "postpone" the equalities agenda in order to deal with "the things people really care about."" Within an hour aides had corrected the text, insisting an early draft had been released in error. The revised version said: "Continued trouble in the economy leads some people to demand we "postpone" the equalities agenda in order to deal with "the things people really care about."" The coalition's pledge to introduce same-sex civil marriage by 2015 has been criticised by religious groups and provoked deep unease in Conservative ranks - with some ministers suggesting they might not support it in Parliament. David Cameron has signalled that MPs will be given a free vote on the issue, but stressed his personal commitment. Mr Clegg will hail the progress of a consultation on the proposals at the event in central London this evening. Celebrity campaigners and religious figures are being served Ben and Jerry's Appley Ever After ice cream, specially renamed by the company. The Liberal Democrat leader will still roundly reject calls for the move to be put on hold until the economy revives as "utter rubbish." "As if pursuing greater equality and fixing the economy simply cannot happen at once," he will say. I want you to hear it straight from me tonight: the idea that the two are mutually exclusive is utter rubbish. A nonsense this coalition Government will never bow to. But even before Mr Clegg delivered his remarks, opponents of gay marriage voiced fury at the "bigot" jibe in the initial version. A spokesman for the Coalition for Marriage said: "These intolerant and intemperate remarks by Nick Clegg show that there is nothing liberal about him whatsoever. The majority of people in this country oppose the redefinition of marriage, according to polling, and his comments effectively criticise millions of ordinary men and women. Nick Clegg should confine himself to fixing the broken economy, which he was elected to do, rather than attacking those people who back the centuries-old definition of marriage.