UK Wedding News
20/05/2013
According to Sky News, Tory MPs and activists remains 'deeply' split over the controversial issue changes.
The move to change the definition of marriage has been pushed by Prime Minister David Cameron, but he has faced severe criticism from the Conservatives at all levels. Ahead of the debate, a group of current and former local part chairmen warned that the plans would drive Tory voters to the UK Independence Party (UKIP), therefore making a Conservative election victory in 2015 impossible.
Tory former minister Tim Loughton will attempt to amend the legislation to allow heterosexuals to have the same right to civil partnerships as gay couples. He claimed a ComRes survey of 159 MPs from across the parties which found 73% agreed that civil partnerships should be extended to heterosexuals "in the interests of equality" if gay marriage is legalised.
Mr Loughton said: "Far from being a 'wrecking measure' some of the strongest support for my amendment to extend civil partnerships comes from the biggest supporters of same sex marriage in the Labour and Lib Dem parties.
"If the Government think it is right to extend marriage to everyone then it has to be right to extend civil partnerships to everyone too.
"This can only be good for improving stability for many more of the near three million opposite sex couples who currently choose to cohabit but are in no formally recognised relationship."
However, Conservative Equalities Minister, Helen Grant, said there was "no significant demand from heterosexual couples for this to happen", but welcomed the free vote for MPs regarding the Bill.
Speaking to Sky News, she explained: "None of us would be here without our loyal, hardworking grassroots people in our various constituencies. Of course these issues are a concern but we knew with something as emotive and polarised as gay marriage there would be differences. That's why the PM has given a free vote."
MPs get a free vote on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill because it is considered an issue of conscience.
The Bill will be debated over two days, with its third reading - the final hurdle in the Commons - on Tuesday. If approved, it will go to the House of Lords on Wednesday, where it is expected to face further opposition. Under the proposed legislation, the Church of England and the Church in Wales would be banned from offering same-sex marriages because of their strongly stated opposition, unless they changed canon law. Other religious organisations would be able to "opt in" to holding ceremonies.
There are currently no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland, but there are plans for a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland.
(JP/MH)
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MPs To Discuss Same-Sex Marriage
The coalition government's plans to legalise same-sex marriage are to be discussed in the Commons today.According to Sky News, Tory MPs and activists remains 'deeply' split over the controversial issue changes.
The move to change the definition of marriage has been pushed by Prime Minister David Cameron, but he has faced severe criticism from the Conservatives at all levels. Ahead of the debate, a group of current and former local part chairmen warned that the plans would drive Tory voters to the UK Independence Party (UKIP), therefore making a Conservative election victory in 2015 impossible.
Tory former minister Tim Loughton will attempt to amend the legislation to allow heterosexuals to have the same right to civil partnerships as gay couples. He claimed a ComRes survey of 159 MPs from across the parties which found 73% agreed that civil partnerships should be extended to heterosexuals "in the interests of equality" if gay marriage is legalised.
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Mr Loughton said: "Far from being a 'wrecking measure' some of the strongest support for my amendment to extend civil partnerships comes from the biggest supporters of same sex marriage in the Labour and Lib Dem parties.
"If the Government think it is right to extend marriage to everyone then it has to be right to extend civil partnerships to everyone too.
"This can only be good for improving stability for many more of the near three million opposite sex couples who currently choose to cohabit but are in no formally recognised relationship."
However, Conservative Equalities Minister, Helen Grant, said there was "no significant demand from heterosexual couples for this to happen", but welcomed the free vote for MPs regarding the Bill.
Speaking to Sky News, she explained: "None of us would be here without our loyal, hardworking grassroots people in our various constituencies. Of course these issues are a concern but we knew with something as emotive and polarised as gay marriage there would be differences. That's why the PM has given a free vote."
MPs get a free vote on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill because it is considered an issue of conscience.
The Bill will be debated over two days, with its third reading - the final hurdle in the Commons - on Tuesday. If approved, it will go to the House of Lords on Wednesday, where it is expected to face further opposition. Under the proposed legislation, the Church of England and the Church in Wales would be banned from offering same-sex marriages because of their strongly stated opposition, unless they changed canon law. Other religious organisations would be able to "opt in" to holding ceremonies.
There are currently no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland, but there are plans for a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland.
(JP/MH)
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