A part-time photographer and finance manager with one of Australia’s major retailers is behind the new North Shore Marriage Equality Alliance group which hopes to put pressure on Liberal MPs along Sydney’s northern beaches to support a conscience vote on the issue.

The formation of the grassroots group by 36-year-old Cremorne resident, Nathan Thomas (pictured, right), comes a month after Coalition leader Tony Abbott said that he would not allow a conscience vote to take place on the topic of marriage equality should a vote take place.