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| Gay marriage: MPs debate plan ahead of Commons vote | Gay marriage: MPs debate plan ahead of Commons vote |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| All couples who enter into a lifelong commitment should be able to call it marriage, Culture Secretary Maria Miller has said. | All couples who enter into a lifelong commitment should be able to call it marriage, Culture Secretary Maria Miller has said. |
| MPs are debating the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill and will vote on it at about 1900 GMT. | |
| Mrs Miller insisted the bill would protect religious freedoms and "not marginalise those who believe marriage should be between a man and a woman". | |
| A number of Conservative MPs are expected to vote against the plans. | A number of Conservative MPs are expected to vote against the plans. |
| The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales. | The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales. |
| It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage. | It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage. |
| 'Depth of feeling' | 'Depth of feeling' |
| But concerns have been raised that by changing marriage from being solely between a man and a woman, fundamental parts of marriage, such as the ability to divorce on the grounds of adultery or failure to consummate the marriage, would not apply to same-sex marriages. | But concerns have been raised that by changing marriage from being solely between a man and a woman, fundamental parts of marriage, such as the ability to divorce on the grounds of adultery or failure to consummate the marriage, would not apply to same-sex marriages. |
| This is because current legal definitions of adultery and consummation are based on sexual contact between a man and a woman. | |
| "There is absolutely no doubt that once marriage is re-defined in this very fundamental way, a whole number of new legal questions will arise, and no one can be quite sure what the outcome will be," warned Sir Tony Baldry, the Church of England's representative in the Commons. | |
| "The government believes that this is a risk worth taking; the Church of England believes that it is not." | |
| Reports suggest upwards of 120 Conservative MPs could vote against the government's plans, including some cabinet ministers. | Reports suggest upwards of 120 Conservative MPs could vote against the government's plans, including some cabinet ministers. |
| MPs will have a free vote on the bill, meaning they will not be ordered to vote for or against by party whips. | |
| The legislation is expected to pass through the Commons with most on the Labour and Liberal Democrat benches supporting it. | |
| Maria Miller told MPs: "What marriage offers us all is a lifelong partner to share our journey; a loving stable relationship to strengthen us and a mutual support throughout our lives. | Maria Miller told MPs: "What marriage offers us all is a lifelong partner to share our journey; a loving stable relationship to strengthen us and a mutual support throughout our lives. |
| "I believe this is something that should be embraced by more couples. | "I believe this is something that should be embraced by more couples. |
| "The depth of feeling, love and commitment is no different between same sex couples than opposite sex couples." | "The depth of feeling, love and commitment is no different between same sex couples than opposite sex couples." |
| Mrs Miller argued that marriage had evolved over time and rejected the claim that there was no need for same-sex marriages because same-sex couples can already have a civil partnership. | Mrs Miller argued that marriage had evolved over time and rejected the claim that there was no need for same-sex marriages because same-sex couples can already have a civil partnership. |
| 'Freedom of faith' | 'Freedom of faith' |
| "A legal partnership is not perceived in the same way and does not have the same promises of responsibility and commitment as marriage," she said. | "A legal partnership is not perceived in the same way and does not have the same promises of responsibility and commitment as marriage," she said. |
| "All couples who enter a lifelong commitment together should be able to call it marriage." | "All couples who enter a lifelong commitment together should be able to call it marriage." |
| She acknowledged the concerns of religious groups about the plans but said there need not be a choice "between religious belief and fairness for same sex couples". | She acknowledged the concerns of religious groups about the plans but said there need not be a choice "between religious belief and fairness for same sex couples". |
| "Equal marriage should not come at the cost of freedom of faith, nor freedom of faith come at the cost of equal marriage," she said. | "Equal marriage should not come at the cost of freedom of faith, nor freedom of faith come at the cost of equal marriage," she said. |
| "We are capable of accommodating both. This bill does so in a straight forward manner." | "We are capable of accommodating both. This bill does so in a straight forward manner." |
| For Labour, Yvette Cooper also urged MPs to back the proposals saying: "Couples who love each other should be able to get married regardless of their gender and their sexuality." | For Labour, Yvette Cooper also urged MPs to back the proposals saying: "Couples who love each other should be able to get married regardless of their gender and their sexuality." |
| She said she wanted to see same-sex relationships "celebrated and valued by the state in the same way as everyone else". | She said she wanted to see same-sex relationships "celebrated and valued by the state in the same way as everyone else". |
| Ms Cooper argued that the bill would keep the institution of marriage "inclusive and in touch for the next generation". | |
| "Let's celebrate not discriminate, and let's be on the right side of history, and vote for this bill today," she urged MPs. | |
| On Tuesday, Chancellor George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Secretary Theresa May wrote to the Daily Telegraph in an attempt to persuade Tory MPs to back the plan. | On Tuesday, Chancellor George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Secretary Theresa May wrote to the Daily Telegraph in an attempt to persuade Tory MPs to back the plan. |
| They wrote: "Marriage has evolved over time. We believe that opening it up to same-sex couples will strengthen, not weaken, the institution. | They wrote: "Marriage has evolved over time. We believe that opening it up to same-sex couples will strengthen, not weaken, the institution. |
| "As David Cameron has said, we should support gay marriage not in spite of being Conservatives, but because we are Conservatives." | "As David Cameron has said, we should support gay marriage not in spite of being Conservatives, but because we are Conservatives." |
| But on Sunday, more than 20 current and former Conservative constituency chairmen delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election. | But on Sunday, more than 20 current and former Conservative constituency chairmen delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election. |
| It warned of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans entered law. | It warned of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans entered law. |
| The author of another letter published in the Telegraph on Tuesday - the chairman of Witham Constituency Conservative Association in Essex - said it was "reckless" of the prime minister to "divide the party". | The author of another letter published in the Telegraph on Tuesday - the chairman of Witham Constituency Conservative Association in Essex - said it was "reckless" of the prime minister to "divide the party". |
| 'Division and distrust' | 'Division and distrust' |
| However, 50 senior Tory activists have argued that such opposition risks alienating voters and the plans have been strongly backed by Prime Minister David Cameron. | However, 50 senior Tory activists have argued that such opposition risks alienating voters and the plans have been strongly backed by Prime Minister David Cameron. |
| BBC deputy political editor James Landale says Downing Street hopes the row will have been forgotten by the general election. | BBC deputy political editor James Landale says Downing Street hopes the row will have been forgotten by the general election. |
| However, he says, others in the Conservative Party fear the division and the distrust could cost the party dear. | However, he says, others in the Conservative Party fear the division and the distrust could cost the party dear. |
| Downing Street said the prime minister had no plans to speak on the issue before the vote and there were no plans for him meet wavering MPs. | Downing Street said the prime minister had no plans to speak on the issue before the vote and there were no plans for him meet wavering MPs. |
| The government believes that the wording of the bill will ensure that the Church of England and the Church in Wales will not face any legal challenges to their strong stated opposition to holding same-sex marriages. | The government believes that the wording of the bill will ensure that the Church of England and the Church in Wales will not face any legal challenges to their strong stated opposition to holding same-sex marriages. |
| All religious organisations will be able to opt in to holding ceremonies - but the Church of England and the Church in Wales would first need to agree to change canon law. | All religious organisations will be able to opt in to holding ceremonies - but the Church of England and the Church in Wales would first need to agree to change canon law. |