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| Gay marriage: Government to introduce law change | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The government is to introduce legislation on gay marriage before the next election, the BBC understands. | |
| The news comes as a 12-week consultation on allowing gay couples in England and Wales to marry was launched. | |
| The proposal is being fiercely opposed by some senior church figures, as well as a number of Conservative MPs. | The proposal is being fiercely opposed by some senior church figures, as well as a number of Conservative MPs. |
| Civil partnerships, introduced in 2005, already give gay couples the same legal rights as married couples. | Civil partnerships, introduced in 2005, already give gay couples the same legal rights as married couples. |
| But the government wants to go further by allowing them to make vows and declare they are married before the next general election, due in 2015. | But the government wants to go further by allowing them to make vows and declare they are married before the next general election, due in 2015. |
| The BBC's political correspondent Norman Smith tweeted that the government planned to introduce legislation before the next general election. | |
| Ministers say it would lift another barrier to equality and give gay partners the same rights as those enjoyed by opposite sex couples. | Ministers say it would lift another barrier to equality and give gay partners the same rights as those enjoyed by opposite sex couples. |
| The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for reform of the marriage laws, arguing that they are outdated and discriminate against same-sex couples. | The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for reform of the marriage laws, arguing that they are outdated and discriminate against same-sex couples. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron backed the move while in opposition as part of his modernising drive and the pledge to permit equal marriage was included in the Conservative party's 2010 election manifesto. | Prime Minister David Cameron backed the move while in opposition as part of his modernising drive and the pledge to permit equal marriage was included in the Conservative party's 2010 election manifesto. |
| However, some Conservative MPs are uncomfortable with the move, arguing it will undermine the traditional idea of the family. | However, some Conservative MPs are uncomfortable with the move, arguing it will undermine the traditional idea of the family. |
| 'Shame' on UK | 'Shame' on UK |
| During Commons questions about the consultation, Peter Bone, MP for Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, said: "Wouldn't it just be very simple to write back and say: 'Marriage is between a man and a woman so this is completely nuts'?" | During Commons questions about the consultation, Peter Bone, MP for Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, said: "Wouldn't it just be very simple to write back and say: 'Marriage is between a man and a woman so this is completely nuts'?" |
| Meanwhile, senior members of the clergy have complained that politicians should not be allowed to redefine marriage. | Meanwhile, senior members of the clergy have complained that politicians should not be allowed to redefine marriage. |
| Earlier this month, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the "grotesque" plans would "shame the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world" if implemented. | Earlier this month, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the "grotesque" plans would "shame the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world" if implemented. |
| A week later, Roman Catholic congregations across England and Wales were read a letter from the Church's two most senior archbishops saying the change would reduce the significance of marriage and it was the duty of all Roman Catholics to make sure it did not happen. | A week later, Roman Catholic congregations across England and Wales were read a letter from the Church's two most senior archbishops saying the change would reduce the significance of marriage and it was the duty of all Roman Catholics to make sure it did not happen. |
| The leader of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, has said the law should not be used as a tool to bring about social changes such as gay marriage. | The leader of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, has said the law should not be used as a tool to bring about social changes such as gay marriage. |
| Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, has said the issue was neither about religious freedom nor party politics. | Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, has said the issue was neither about religious freedom nor party politics. |
| "Ultimately it's about the freedom of a small group of people to be treated in exactly the same way as everyone else," he said. | "Ultimately it's about the freedom of a small group of people to be treated in exactly the same way as everyone else," he said. |
| The Scottish government has held its own consultation process and received more than 50,000 responses. | The Scottish government has held its own consultation process and received more than 50,000 responses. |
| Should same sex couples be allowed to marry? Are you in a civil partnership? Send us your stories using the form below. |