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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gay marriage bill: Lords to debate 'wrecking amendment' | Gay marriage bill: Lords to debate 'wrecking amendment' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A "wrecking amendment" which seeks to derail the same sex marriage bill is being debated in the House of Lords. | |
| The government's bill, covering England and Wales, was passed in the Commons, despite the opposition of 133 Tory MPs. | |
| Ex-chief constable Lord Dear, who has tabled the amendment to refuse it a second reading, said the result of Tuesday's vote was "too close to call". | Ex-chief constable Lord Dear, who has tabled the amendment to refuse it a second reading, said the result of Tuesday's vote was "too close to call". |
| Supporters of same sex marriage are due to hold a rally outside Parliament later on Monday. | |
| The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales would allow couples, who can currently form civil partnerships, to marry. | The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales would allow couples, who can currently form civil partnerships, to marry. |
| Religious organisations would have to "opt in" to offering weddings, with the Church of England and Church in Wales being banned in law from doing so. | Religious organisations would have to "opt in" to offering weddings, with the Church of England and Church in Wales being banned in law from doing so. |
| It is backed by PM David Cameron, his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband but was opposed by 161 MPs in a free vote in the Commons - 133 of them Conservative. | It is backed by PM David Cameron, his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband but was opposed by 161 MPs in a free vote in the Commons - 133 of them Conservative. |
| 'Deep concern' | 'Deep concern' |
| The bill, which has been criticised by some Conservative activists, is expected to face a tough passage through the Lords - if crossbench peer Lord Dear's amendment were passed it would effectively kill it. | The bill, which has been criticised by some Conservative activists, is expected to face a tough passage through the Lords - if crossbench peer Lord Dear's amendment were passed it would effectively kill it. |
| Lord Dear, a crossbencher, told peers the bill was "ill-considered" and sought to "overturn centuries of tradition". | |
| It was "blind to the laws of unintended consequences", he added, calling homosexuals "a very small minority". | |
| But, opening the debate, equalities minister Baroness Stowell of Beeston said: "For gay an lesbian couples this matters. It matters because it means the final acceptance of who they are." | |
| She added that discrimination against homosexuals was "wrong" and that "no religion or faith would be required to change its beliefs or doctrines" as a result of the bill. | |
| Same-sex marriage was "new and different" but would "not affect the nature of existing marriage", Lady Beeston said. | |
| Some 86 peers are expected to speak in Monday's debate with a final vote due on Tuesday. | Some 86 peers are expected to speak in Monday's debate with a final vote due on Tuesday. |
| Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who has organised a rally outside the Houses of Parliament on Monday afternoon, said everyone should be equal before the law in a democratic society. | |
| Meanwhile, in a letter to the Sunday Telegraph, a Tory grassroots group has expressed "deep concern" about "the negative effect of the gay marriage bill on both Conservative Party morale and electoral appeal". | Meanwhile, in a letter to the Sunday Telegraph, a Tory grassroots group has expressed "deep concern" about "the negative effect of the gay marriage bill on both Conservative Party morale and electoral appeal". |
| The Conservative Grassroots group has called on peers to reject the bill. | The Conservative Grassroots group has called on peers to reject the bill. |
| "It is alienating much of our core support while failing to attract new voters with under two years to go before the general election," chairman Robert Woollard wrote. | "It is alienating much of our core support while failing to attract new voters with under two years to go before the general election," chairman Robert Woollard wrote. |
| Last week, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey warned same-sex marriage would set a "dangerous precedent" which could lead to sibling marriage or polygamy. | Last week, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey warned same-sex marriage would set a "dangerous precedent" which could lead to sibling marriage or polygamy. |
| In an article for think tank Civitas, he said did not want to be "alarmist", but said it could logically be extended to "say, two sisters bringing up children together" or "multiple relationships, such as two women and one man". | In an article for think tank Civitas, he said did not want to be "alarmist", but said it could logically be extended to "say, two sisters bringing up children together" or "multiple relationships, such as two women and one man". |
| "Ultimately, the proposed legalisation of same-sex marriage represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of marriage," he said. | "Ultimately, the proposed legalisation of same-sex marriage represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of marriage," he said. |
| Mr Cameron hopes the bill will become law soon and that the first ceremonies can take place by next summer. | Mr Cameron hopes the bill will become law soon and that the first ceremonies can take place by next summer. |
| The Scottish government has confirmed it will introduce a bill shortly to allow same-sex marriage. | The Scottish government has confirmed it will introduce a bill shortly to allow same-sex marriage. |