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| Gay marriage: MPs debate and vote | |
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| 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 with a vote at 1900 GMT. | MPs are debating the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill with a vote at 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". | 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 - Sir Roger Gale called it "Orwellian". | A number of Conservative MPs are expected to vote against the plans - Sir Roger Gale called it "Orwellian". |
| "Marriage is the union between a man and a woman, has been historically, remains so. It is Alice in Wonderland territory, Orwellian almost, for any government of any political persuasion to seek to come along and try to re-write the lexicon. It will not do," he said. | "Marriage is the union between a man and a woman, has been historically, remains so. It is Alice in Wonderland territory, Orwellian almost, for any government of any political persuasion to seek to come along and try to re-write the lexicon. It will not do," he said. |
| 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. |
| Adultery | Adultery |
| Mrs 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. | Mrs 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. The depth of feeling, love and commitment is no different between same-sex couples than opposite-sex 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." |
| 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. |
| "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". |
| But some MPs raised concerns 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 some MPs raised concerns 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. |
| 'Orwellian' | 'Orwellian' |
| This is because current legal definitions of adultery and consummation are based on sexual contact between a man and a woman. | 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, a Conservative MP and the Church of England's representative in the Commons. | "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, a Conservative MP and 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." | "The government believes that this is a risk worth taking; the Church of England believes that it is not." |
| "It is abundantly plain, to most of us on this side of the House, that this bill... will end up before the European Court of Human Rights, and that people of faith will find that faith being trampled upon, and that to us is intolerable", said Sir Roger Gale, the Conservative MP for Thanet North. | "It is abundantly plain, to most of us on this side of the House, that this bill... will end up before the European Court of Human Rights, and that people of faith will find that faith being trampled upon, and that to us is intolerable", said Sir Roger Gale, the Conservative MP for Thanet North. |
| "There is a way forward. It's been suggested, but it's been ignored," he added. | "There is a way forward. It's been suggested, but it's been ignored," he added. |
| "I don't subscribe to it myself, but I recognise the merit in the argument, and that is this: if the government is serious about this, take it away, abolish the Civil Partnerships Bill, abolish civil marriage, and create a Civil Union Bill that applies to all people irrespective of the sexuality, or their relationships, and that means brothers and brothers, and sisters and sisters, and brothers and sisters as well. | "I don't subscribe to it myself, but I recognise the merit in the argument, and that is this: if the government is serious about this, take it away, abolish the Civil Partnerships Bill, abolish civil marriage, and create a Civil Union Bill that applies to all people irrespective of the sexuality, or their relationships, and that means brothers and brothers, and sisters and sisters, and brothers and sisters as well. |
| "That would be a way forward. This is not." | "That would be a way forward. This is not." |
| 'Right side of history' | 'Right side of history' |
| 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. | 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. | The legislation is expected to pass through the Commons with most on the Labour and Liberal Democrat benches supporting it. |
| For Labour, Yvette Cooper called on 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 called on 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". | 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. | "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." |
| 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. |