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| Same-sex marriage: MPs set to vote on Northern Ireland law | Same-sex marriage: MPs set to vote on Northern Ireland law |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| MPs are expected to vote later on Tuesday about whether or not to legalise same-sex marriage in NI. | MPs are expected to vote later on Tuesday about whether or not to legalise same-sex marriage in NI. |
| It will come as part of a Commons debate aimed at keeping NI running in the absence of a devolved government, which collapsed in January 2017. | It will come as part of a Commons debate aimed at keeping NI running in the absence of a devolved government, which collapsed in January 2017. |
| Its main purpose is to extend the government's legal power to delay a fresh Stormont election until October at the earliest. | Its main purpose is to extend the government's legal power to delay a fresh Stormont election until October at the earliest. |
| Backbench MPs have tabled amendments on other issues. | Backbench MPs have tabled amendments on other issues. |
| They argue these issues should not be stalled due to the lack of devolution. | They argue these issues should not be stalled due to the lack of devolution. |
| Unlike England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, same-sex marriage is not legal in Northern Ireland. | Unlike England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, same-sex marriage is not legal in Northern Ireland. |
| Labour's Conor McGinn, originally from south Armagh, put forward a proposal to the NI Executive Formation Bill that if Stormont is not restored by 21 October, then the government should legislate for same-sex marriage - with the caveat that a future assembly could overturn or amend the law. | Labour's Conor McGinn, originally from south Armagh, put forward a proposal to the NI Executive Formation Bill that if Stormont is not restored by 21 October, then the government should legislate for same-sex marriage - with the caveat that a future assembly could overturn or amend the law. |
| "My priority, and what I want to see, is an assembly up and running and functioning in Stormont, so it is my strong view that the way that this amendment is crafted doesn't impinge on the devolved settlement because it explicitly recognises that this is a devolved power," he said. | "My priority, and what I want to see, is an assembly up and running and functioning in Stormont, so it is my strong view that the way that this amendment is crafted doesn't impinge on the devolved settlement because it explicitly recognises that this is a devolved power," he said. |
| "At the minute, the assembly and executive exists in the ether or as a concept, not in reality." | "At the minute, the assembly and executive exists in the ether or as a concept, not in reality." |
| His amendment has been chosen for debate by the Speaker's Office. | His amendment has been chosen for debate by the Speaker's Office. |
| The first half of Tuesday's debate is expected to last for four hours, with Mr McGinn's amendment expected to be debated and voted on at about 17:00 BST. | The first half of Tuesday's debate is expected to last for four hours, with Mr McGinn's amendment expected to be debated and voted on at about 17:00 BST. |
| This will also include a vote on abortion legislation in Northern Ireland, put forward by Labour's Stella Creasy. | This will also include a vote on abortion legislation in Northern Ireland, put forward by Labour's Stella Creasy. |
| Another hour of debate on other amendments, with some tabled by the DUP looking at the implementation of the Military Covenant in NI, is scheduled for later, with voting on these expected at about 19:00. | Another hour of debate on other amendments, with some tabled by the DUP looking at the implementation of the Military Covenant in NI, is scheduled for later, with voting on these expected at about 19:00. |
| The DUP has reacted angrily to the decision to allow the amendments to be debated in Parliament. | The DUP has reacted angrily to the decision to allow the amendments to be debated in Parliament. |
| The party's Westminster leader, Nigel Dodds, said if approved by MPs, the amendment would "drive a coach and horses through the principle of devolution". | The party's Westminster leader, Nigel Dodds, said if approved by MPs, the amendment would "drive a coach and horses through the principle of devolution". |
| North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said it would be unhelpful to the talks process at Stormont. | North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said it would be unhelpful to the talks process at Stormont. |
| However, Mr McGinn rejected that and said his amendment should be viewed as an "incentive" to restore the assembly, so that it could take legislative control back over the issue. | However, Mr McGinn rejected that and said his amendment should be viewed as an "incentive" to restore the assembly, so that it could take legislative control back over the issue. |
| Voting intentions | Voting intentions |
| The government has previously said it would allow Conservative MPs a free vote on the issue, with NI Secretary Karen Bradley saying she would personally vote in favour of it. | The government has previously said it would allow Conservative MPs a free vote on the issue, with NI Secretary Karen Bradley saying she would personally vote in favour of it. |
| The Scottish National Party (SNP), which has traditionally abstained on devolved matters in other nations, said on Tuesday morning that its MPs would be given a free vote on the issue. | |
| The party's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has also said he will vote for it. | The party's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has also said he will vote for it. |
| Northern Ireland has been without a government for more than two and a half years, after a bitter row over a financial scandal split the DUP and Sinn Féin. | Northern Ireland has been without a government for more than two and a half years, after a bitter row over a financial scandal split the DUP and Sinn Féin. |
| The Northern Ireland secretary has twice pushed back her obligation to call an election at Stormont, with it due to end on 25 August. | The Northern Ireland secretary has twice pushed back her obligation to call an election at Stormont, with it due to end on 25 August. |
| This new legislation would delay another poll until 21 October, with another possible extension to 13 January 2020. | This new legislation would delay another poll until 21 October, with another possible extension to 13 January 2020. |
| It also provides greater clarity about decision-making to civil servants at Stormont, in the absence of functioning ministers. | It also provides greater clarity about decision-making to civil servants at Stormont, in the absence of functioning ministers. |
| Timeline of same-sex marriage: | Timeline of same-sex marriage: |