Kamis, 24 Mei 2012

Tory MPs will get a free vote on gay marriage as issue is a 'matter of conscience'

Tory MPs will get a free vote on gay marriage as issue is a 'matter of conscience'

By James Chapman

PUBLISHED: 19:58 EST, 23 May 2012 | UPDATED: 08:57 EST, 24 May 2012

Tory critics of plans to legalise gay marriage are to be appeased with a free vote on the issue as a ‘matter of conscience’.

In a significant concession which will dismay the Lib Dems, Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister believed MPs should not be forced to vote in favour.

Though legislation was not included in the Queen’s Speech earlier this month, ministers are expected to press ahead with a move to allow same-sex marriage in non-religious venues within the next 12 months.

Concessions: A free vote has been planned on whether to legalise gay marriage in a move to appease Tory critics of a law change

Concessions: A free vote has been planned on whether to legalise gay marriage in a move to appease Tory critics of a law change

But significant numbers of Conservative MPs are fundamentally opposed to the idea. Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson this week became the first Cabinet minister to break ranks by announcing his opposition to gay marriage.

The Government has launched a consultation on allowing gay weddings in England and Wales.

In a letter to a constituent lobbying him to support the proposals, Mr Paterson wrote: ‘Having considered this matter carefully, I am afraid I have come to the decision not to support gay marriage.

‘The Prime Minister has made clear that he supports equal civil marriage and the Government is rightly consulting widely on this issue before making any changes to the current position.’

Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, has joined critics who argue that the idea undermines the institution of marriage.

Rejection: Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, has joined critics who argue that the idea undermines the institution of marriage

The Government has launched a 12 week consultation on allowing gay couples in England and Wales to marry. The proposal is being fiercely opposed by some senior church figures.

Civil partnerships, introduced in 2005, already give gay couples similar legal rights to married couples. But the government wants them to be legally allowed to make vows and declare they are married before the next general election, expected in 2015.

Mr Cameron threw his weight behind the proposals in a speech to the 2011 Tory party conference.

Defending the measures he said at the time: ‘To anyone who has reservations, I say: Yes, it’s about equality, but it’s also about something else: commitment. Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other.

‘So I don’t support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am Conservative’.

The Prime Minister’s parliamentary secretary Desmond Swayne said yesterday: ‘I’m married. I enjoy being married, it’s a huge blessing, and therefore I want that blessing to be extended to everyone.

‘I have come at this issue of equal marriage principally because I’m a Christian. I believe that the promises of the Gospel are unconfined, they’re for everyone, and the sacraments that follow that are for everyone.'

But Tory MP Stewart Jackson, who resigned as Mr Paterson’s Parliamentary aide last year in order to vote in favour of the idea of a referendum on membership of the EU, told the PoliticsHome website any move to whip MPs would cause ‘serious divisions’.

He said: ‘No. 10 would be foolish in the extreme to disregard this as a conscience issue. Whipping the vote would be a catastrophic error of judgment.’


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Good to hear that The Conservatives and The Liberal Democrats as well as Labour remain committed to lifting the ban on equal ‘civil’ marriage. It can only be a question of how, not whether, same-sex marriage is legalised. Legislation on equal marriage doesn't prevent Government prioritising jobs, growth or family finances â€" it is the Government’s own economic policy (largely based on Conservative driven ideas) which is preventing that from happening. Any Government should be able to ‘multi-task’ in its managing of the country; Jobs, growth and family finances are not the only issues that affects us in our day-to-day lives. There are a few UKIP supporting Tories (leftovers from the old Tory 'Nasty Party') trying to stop same-sex marriage. It exposes the deep hostility to equality that some in the party are still keen to 'espouse'. The Conservatives and the majority of the country as a whole support equality for all in the 21st Century, inclu ding marriage for Gays! Sententiam dixi. Amen.

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Why can't the Gay community acknowledge that the word 'MARRIAGE' and the act of getting 'MARRIED' in a Church, Mosque, Synagogue, . - NDT, Sydney EXPAT, 24/5/2012 3:33 Two points: One-are you saying that you cannot be gay and also religious? Two: I've been to four (straight) weddings in the last year or so and not one of the couples were in any way religious. None attend church and one marriage was not even in their local area but the church was chosen because it was a beautiful church. I really cannot see why this is such an issue in the 21st century. Personally, everyone I know takes a live and let live attitude to this.

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Well if my Tory MP votes against gay marriage I will consider it as a factor come the next election. It wouldn't be an over-riding issue but is a good indication of their view on civil liberties.I'd be unlikely to vote for anyone who opposes this motion as it suggests that their world view is the opposite of mine.

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Usual rubbish on here so can we break it down, yet again. Marriage is NOT a religious institution. Plenty of heterosexual couples get married in registry offices and no proposals are being put forward to make gay marriage happen in a religious setting. The Conservatives DID put the commitment to equal marriage in their manifesto. It is not for the majority to decide the rights of a minority, particularly on an issue that doesn't affect them in any way. The C4M poll is wildly misleading and biased and more neutral opinion polls show the majority are in favour of the proposals. The joke petition they've set up is massively open to abuse, can be signed by anyone around the world and seems to gain thousands of signatures in pockets of time. Dodgy as anything. So in short, grow up, this is happening. If you don't want gay marriage, you don't have to have one.

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"Gay "marriage" was not in a single election manifesto and is opposed by 70% of the population"......2 point here Jerzy, neither was a top down reorganisation of the NHS in any manifesto but its happened, also your quote of 70% are against, sadly you fail to actually tell the good folk where that stat comes from, is it because its from a Christian survey of Christian people linked in with a Christian organisation?!?!? yet sadly your trying to make it sound as though 70% of the population of the UK have this view, in fact your wrong, very wrong! Ohhh and lets not forget many of the signatures on the C4M petition will have to be removed following proof of many minors being forced to sign it in catholic schools (no one can legally sign a petition until there of a certain age!) Ohhh dear o dear, you seem to have yourself in a right tizzy!!!!

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The Government has launched a 12 week consultation...How much is that costing the taxpayers? Why not give the MPs a vote on the referendum? No! Silly me.

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@ NDT, Sydney EXPAT---- You haven't read the article. It will allow marriage in non-religious venues. No-one is going to force any church to marry anyone, straight or gay. For the record, marriage isn't JUST a religious ceremony. MANY, MANY people take part in a non-religious marriage. What's wrong with having a civil partnership you ask. Well as you rightly define marrige being a 'special' term defining love and commitment, gay people want that too but can't by law. To be called 'civily partnered' is a mouthful and doesn't hold the meaning of the word marriage. To include same sex couples, allowing them to marry, will only affect those that are not actually seeing the definition as love and commitment to the person they are marrying/married to. Lets face it, mass murderers, thieves and rapists can get married, that doesn't affect your marriage status. Stop judging, condeming others who are different to you, or should everyone have to live your way of life?

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As a supporter of ''same-sex marriage in non-religious venues'', (and in religious venues also if the venues want it) I also think a free vote is right. There are too many issues on which Parties compel MPs to vote in a particular way. We should hae more free votes - we vote for our Constituency MP as well as voting for a Party. So we should allow our Mps to vote according to their conscience where it is not absolutely at odds with the Party.

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It shouldn't even have gotten this far, bin it start looking at real issues that affect the entire population, not just 1%!!!!!!!!!

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If Scotland votes to allow Gay marriages and England Wales reject it, will this lead to same sex couples heading to Gretna Green to get married as Scotland is part of Britain, the marriages would be legally recognised

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