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| Gay marriage: Party leaders hail vote | Gay marriage: Party leaders hail vote |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Party leaders at Westminster have hailed the significance of the backing for same-sex marriage in England and Wales in a key Commons vote. | Party leaders at Westminster have hailed the significance of the backing for same-sex marriage in England and Wales in a key Commons vote. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday's vote had been "an important step forward" and Labour leader Ed Miliband called it a "proud day". | Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday's vote had been "an important step forward" and Labour leader Ed Miliband called it a "proud day". |
| MPs voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill by 400 to 175, a majority of 225. | MPs voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill by 400 to 175, a majority of 225. |
| But 136 Tory MPs opposed the bill and have continued to voice their concerns. | But 136 Tory MPs opposed the bill and have continued to voice their concerns. |
| MPs were given a free vote on the bill, meaning they were not ordered to vote a particular way by party whips. | MPs were given a free vote on the bill, meaning they were not ordered to vote a particular way by party whips. |
| Their decision to back the bill at second reading signifies that they approve of it in principle. The legislation will now receive more detailed parliamentary scrutiny. | Their decision to back the bill at second reading signifies that they approve of it in principle. The legislation will now receive more detailed parliamentary scrutiny. |
| 'Lords opposition' | 'Lords opposition' |
| If it becomes law, the bill will enable same-sex couples, who are currently able to engage in civil partnerships, to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies - the latter only with the consent of religious institutions. | If it becomes law, the bill will enable same-sex couples, who are currently able to engage in civil partnerships, to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies - the latter only with the consent of religious institutions. |
| It was a significant challenge to David Cameron's authority. Almost half of his own MPs failed to support him. | It was a significant challenge to David Cameron's authority. Almost half of his own MPs failed to support him. |
| There are warnings now of a lot of disaffected people within his party and predictions that that it could weaken his leadership. | There are warnings now of a lot of disaffected people within his party and predictions that that it could weaken his leadership. |
| Tuesday's vote was a big moment but it has got further stages to pass in the parliamentary process. In the months and years ahead there is the possibility that this issue will fester with angry Tories, both in parliament and in associations across the country. | Tuesday's vote was a big moment but it has got further stages to pass in the parliamentary process. In the months and years ahead there is the possibility that this issue will fester with angry Tories, both in parliament and in associations across the country. |
| There is another view though, that the prime minister will be delighted. | There is another view though, that the prime minister will be delighted. |
| He's had a very public confrontation with the notably more traditional part of his party over an issue that he believes is worth a big fight. | He's had a very public confrontation with the notably more traditional part of his party over an issue that he believes is worth a big fight. |
| He thinks marriage should be open to all. But he also sees it as a defining moment in his modernising mission. | He thinks marriage should be open to all. But he also sees it as a defining moment in his modernising mission. |
| Crudely speaking, he hopes there will be votes in it come 2015. | Crudely speaking, he hopes there will be votes in it come 2015. |
| Voting lists show that 136 Conservatives - almost half of the party's MPs - opposed the bill. | Voting lists show that 136 Conservatives - almost half of the party's MPs - opposed the bill. |
| This figure included two cabinet ministers - Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Welsh Secretary David Jones - eight junior ministers, and eight whips. | This figure included two cabinet ministers - Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Welsh Secretary David Jones - eight junior ministers, and eight whips. |
| Of the remaining Conservative MPs, 127 were in favour, 35 did not vote, and five registered an abstention by voting both in favour and against. | Of the remaining Conservative MPs, 127 were in favour, 35 did not vote, and five registered an abstention by voting both in favour and against. |
| Mr Paterson defended his decision to vote against the bill, saying his views were "not discriminatory at all". | Mr Paterson defended his decision to vote against the bill, saying his views were "not discriminatory at all". |
| "I have my idea and many agreed with me but many more didn't," he said. "I have a clear idea of what the definition of marriage is... I expressed that last night and this process continues through Parliament." | "I have my idea and many agreed with me but many more didn't," he said. "I have a clear idea of what the definition of marriage is... I expressed that last night and this process continues through Parliament." |
| Among those who voted against, Conservative MP David Burrowes predicted that the legislation would receive substantial opposition when it arrived in the House of Lords. | Among those who voted against, Conservative MP David Burrowes predicted that the legislation would receive substantial opposition when it arrived in the House of Lords. |
| However, he said the vote had shown that the party was in touch with the country: "The nation is divided, we have shown ourselves as a party to be divided." | However, he said the vote had shown that the party was in touch with the country: "The nation is divided, we have shown ourselves as a party to be divided." |
| Former Tory defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth said that the government had no mandate for such a "massive social and cultural change", which had not been mentioned in the 2010 Conservative manifesto. | Former Tory defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth said that the government had no mandate for such a "massive social and cultural change", which had not been mentioned in the 2010 Conservative manifesto. |
| Another Conservative MP opposed to same-sex marriages, Sir Roger Gale, says he hoped the the prime minister would make changes to the legislation. | Another Conservative MP opposed to same-sex marriages, Sir Roger Gale, says he hoped the the prime minister would make changes to the legislation. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "I think what we can do is ameliorate the worst of the effects of the proposed legislation." | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "I think what we can do is ameliorate the worst of the effects of the proposed legislation." |
| He has suggested replacing register office marriages and civil partnerships with a new form of civil union to "strengthen the concept that marriage is a union between one man and one woman, to leave that to faith to implement". | He has suggested replacing register office marriages and civil partnerships with a new form of civil union to "strengthen the concept that marriage is a union between one man and one woman, to leave that to faith to implement". |
| He added: "There is no particular reason why the state should have anything to do with marriage at all but there is considerable reason why the state should have a lot to do with civil union." | He added: "There is no particular reason why the state should have anything to do with marriage at all but there is considerable reason why the state should have a lot to do with civil union." |
| Tory Mark Pritchard, who also voted against the bill, said he expected there would be "ongoing discussions over the progress of the bill", but denied that disagreement amongst Conservative MPs had "caused long lasting division" or that there had been "fundamental damage to the prime minister". | Tory Mark Pritchard, who also voted against the bill, said he expected there would be "ongoing discussions over the progress of the bill", but denied that disagreement amongst Conservative MPs had "caused long lasting division" or that there had been "fundamental damage to the prime minister". |
| 'Equality landmark' | 'Equality landmark' |
| Mr Miliband, the leader of the opposition, welcomed the outcome of the Commons vote. | Mr Miliband, the leader of the opposition, welcomed the outcome of the Commons vote. |
| "This is a proud day and an important step forward in the fight for equality in Britain," he said. | "This is a proud day and an important step forward in the fight for equality in Britain," he said. |
| "The overwhelming majority of Labour MPs supported this change to make sure marriage reflects the value we place on long-term, loving relationships whoever you love. | "The overwhelming majority of Labour MPs supported this change to make sure marriage reflects the value we place on long-term, loving relationships whoever you love. |
| "Equal marriage builds on Labour's successes in government which include the repeal of Section 28, equalising the age of consent, the introduction of civil partnerships and changes to the rules governing adoption." | "Equal marriage builds on Labour's successes in government which include the repeal of Section 28, equalising the age of consent, the introduction of civil partnerships and changes to the rules governing adoption." |
| Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said he believed people would look back at the vote and see it as "a landmark for equality in Britain". | Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said he believed people would look back at the vote and see it as "a landmark for equality in Britain". |
| He said: "No matter who you are and who you love, we are all equal. Marriage is about love and commitment, and it should no longer be denied to people just because they are gay. | He said: "No matter who you are and who you love, we are all equal. Marriage is about love and commitment, and it should no longer be denied to people just because they are gay. |
| "The Liberal Democrats have long fought for equal marriage. It is party policy and I am proud that the Liberal Democrats are part of the coalition government that are making it happen." | "The Liberal Democrats have long fought for equal marriage. It is party policy and I am proud that the Liberal Democrats are part of the coalition government that are making it happen." |
| Four of the 56 Liberal Democrat MPs opposed the legislation. | Four of the 56 Liberal Democrat MPs opposed the legislation. |
| They included former coalition minister Sarah Teather who, in a statement, expressed concern that the definition of marriage was being changed, which could make family life more unstable. | They included former coalition minister Sarah Teather who, in a statement, expressed concern that the definition of marriage was being changed, which could make family life more unstable. |
| "It is my view that where the extra protections offered to same-sex couples are marginal, and where the potential negatives to society over a period of time may be more considerable, I am unable to support the bill," she said. | "It is my view that where the extra protections offered to same-sex couples are marginal, and where the potential negatives to society over a period of time may be more considerable, I am unable to support the bill," she said. |