Agreement saves gay marriage bill

A bid by a Tory opponent of gay marriage to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples attracted 70 supporters in a free vote
21 May 2013

Plans to allow same-sex marriage survived a Conservative backlash after a fraught debate in the House of Commons.

An amendment which supporters warned could derail the legislation altogether was easily defeated after the Government reached an agreement with Labour.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill now looks set to be approved by MPs - but is likely to meet stiff resistance in the House of Lords.

A bid by a Tory opponent of gay marriage to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples attracted 70 supporters in a free vote - far fewer than the 100-plus anticipated by some critics.

Ex-minister Tim Loughton insisted it was not a "wrecking amendment" and was a move backed by the public and many advocates of same-sex marriage. But the change - which Culture Secretary Maria Miller said would impose significant delays and costs - was defeated by a majority of 305.

Fears the reforms could be scuppered were eased after Mrs Miller indicated she would accept Labour calls for an immediate review of civil partnerships - which was comfortably approved by the Commons.

Downing Street said it was "entirely consistent" with Mrs Miller's own amendment pledging a review five years after the introduction of gay marriage. It was seen as sufficient to persuade Labour MPs - most of whom support the reforms - not to vote in favour of Mr Loughton's amendment.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was Liberal Democrat policy that civil partnerships should be available to heterosexual couples but said he would not back amendments that would derail the Bill.

Senior Labour sources had initially indicated that they expected the party's MPs to abstain but later switched to voting against after an 11th-hour appeal from the Government that it "did not have the numbers". "Ed Miliband's priority is to ensure the equal marriages bill gets on to the statute book," they said.

A series of other amendments tabled by Tory opponents of the reforms were also defeated - including one which would have given registrars who objected to same-sex unions the right to refuse to conduct marriages which was backed by 150 MPs including 122 Conservatives.

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