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Gay marriage debate: Tory MP warns party not to follow the Republican road Gay marriage debate: Tory MP warns party not to follow the Republican road
(about 7 hours later)
The Conservative party risks alienating mainstream voters in the same way as US Republicans if it fails to properly embrace social reform such as equal marriage, a leading Tory moderniser warned MPs today. The Conservative party risks alienating mainstream voters in the same way as US Republicans have if it fails to properly embrace social reform such as equal marriage, a leading Tory moderniser warned MPs today.
In a lengthy Commons debate, which saw impassioned speeches for and against the bill, Margot James warned her parliamentary colleagues of the dangers of standing on the wrong side of history.In a lengthy Commons debate, which saw impassioned speeches for and against the bill, Margot James warned her parliamentary colleagues of the dangers of standing on the wrong side of history.
The MP for Stourbridge, who is gay, told the Commons: "I believe my party should never flinch from the requirement that we must continue this progression, otherwise we may end up like the Republican party who lost an election last year that they could have won were it not for their socially conservative agenda."The MP for Stourbridge, who is gay, told the Commons: "I believe my party should never flinch from the requirement that we must continue this progression, otherwise we may end up like the Republican party who lost an election last year that they could have won were it not for their socially conservative agenda."
James spoke up in favour of David Cameron's plans to introduce equal marriage as a series of Tory traditionalists condemned the measure. Sir Roger Gale, the MP for North Thanet, accused the prime minister of an "Orwellian" attempt to redefine marriage. "It is not possible to redefine marriage," he said.James spoke up in favour of David Cameron's plans to introduce equal marriage as a series of Tory traditionalists condemned the measure. Sir Roger Gale, the MP for North Thanet, accused the prime minister of an "Orwellian" attempt to redefine marriage. "It is not possible to redefine marriage," 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 rewrite the political lexicon."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 rewrite the political lexicon.
Gale said ministers may as well "take away" the bill and legalise marriage between siblings. "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 their sexuality or their relationship. That means brothers and brothers and sisters and sisters and brothers and sisters as well."Gale said ministers may as well "take away" the bill and legalise marriage between siblings. "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 their sexuality or their relationship. That means brothers and brothers and sisters and sisters and brothers and sisters as well."
Cheryl Gillan, the former Wales secretary, said: "This legislation was not in our manifesto, it was not in the coalition agreement and it was not in the Queen's speech."
Tim Loughton, the former children's minister, said he supported civil partnerships but opposed equal marriage. "Is not the problem not a lack of equality in the law, that we need to address, but a lack of equality in some people's eyes in society? Just changing the name of a ceremony will not address that."
In a rare Commons intervention, the chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 committee Graham Brady raised concerns over the government's claims that faith groups will not be forced to conduct gay marriages. "I have serious misgivings that, in spite of [equalities minister Maria Miller's] commendable efforts, recognised by the Church of England, it is impossible to guarantee that religious freedom will not be compromised."In a rare Commons intervention, the chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 committee Graham Brady raised concerns over the government's claims that faith groups will not be forced to conduct gay marriages. "I have serious misgivings that, in spite of [equalities minister Maria Miller's] commendable efforts, recognised by the Church of England, it is impossible to guarantee that religious freedom will not be compromised."
Nigel Dodds, the Democratic Unionist MP for North Belfast, said: "Can [Miller] explain to the house why the government is bringing forward this bill now at a time when it wasn't in the Queen's speech, hasn't been the subject of a green paper or a white paper, when there are other things the government promised to do that they are not doing, such as marriage tax allowances? Isn't the truth of it that this is about low political calculation and detoxifying the Tory brand rather than anything to do with principle?" Cheryl Gillan, the former Wales secretary, said: "This legislation was not in our manifesto, it was not in the coalition agreement and it was not in the Queen's speech."
Miller said to Dodds: "We are doing this very clearly as an important part of the way we can make this country a fairer place to live. The measure was clearly flagged up in our contract for equalities at the time of the election." But Nick Herbert, the former police minister who is in a civil partnership, mocked opponents of the bill. "Are the marriages of millions of straight people about to be threatened because a few thousand gay people are permitted to join? What will they say: 'Darling our marriage is over, Sir Elton John has just got engaged to David Furnish.'"
But Nick Herbert, the former police minister who is in a civil partnership, mocked opponents of the bill. "Are the marriages of millions of straight people about to be threatened because a few thousand gay people are permitted to join? What will they say: 'Darling our marriage is over, Sir Elton John has just got engaged to David Furnish'." The commons heard some moving speeches from MPs who spoke in favour of reform. Mike Freer, the Tory MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said the proudest day of his life was six years ago when he entered into a civil partnership with his partner of 21 years.
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: "I hope opponents today will look back in 10 years and won't be able to remember what the fuss was about. So, today, let's vote for people to be able to marry for the sake of those couples who really want to wed." Freer told MPs: "I say to my colleagues that I sit alongside them in committee, in the bars and in the tea room, and I queue alongside them in the division lobby.
But divisions cut across party lines. Stephen Timms, the shadow employment minister, was interrupted by his Labour colleague Lyn Brown when he said that the bill would undermine the central basis for marriage – raising children. Brown, 52, said: "[He] was at my wedding and I was not young when I got married. It was highly unlikely that I was going to be able to, after all that time, procreate. Is he telling me that my marriage is less valid than anybody else's?" "But when it comes to marriage, they are asking me to stand apart and to join a separate queue. I ask my colleagues, if I am equal in this house, to give me every opportunity to be equal."
Timms said: "No, I certainly am not and I was delighted to attend [her] wedding...Children are the reason marriage has always been so important. If it was purely about a loving relationship between two people then it would have been much less important than it has actually been." David Lammy, the former Labour minister, criticised opponents of the bill who said that same-sex couples should be entitled to civil partnerships but not marriage. Invoking the memory of African-Americans in the southern states of the US before civil rights, Lammy said: "Let me speak frankly: separate but equal is a fraud. It is the language that tried to push Rosa Parks to the back of the bus. It is the motif that determined that black and white people could not possibly drink from the same water fountain, eat at the same table or use the same toilets."
Robert Flello, a shadow justice minister, spoke out against the bill. Duncan Hames, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham who is parliamentary private secretary to Nick Clegg, raised concerns that registrars may face setbacks in their careers if they decline to conduct same-sex marriages ceremonies. Toby Perkins, the shadow business minister, recalled his anguish when his mother disclosed that she was gay. He said: "At the end of her life my mother was gay. It was difficult for me as a young man growing up in Sheffield to think that my friends might discover that. People do not deserve to live in that way, so this is fundamentally about mutual respect."
Miller said: "This bill is about one thing – it's about fairness. It is about giving those who want to get married the opportunity to do so, whilst protecting the rights of those who don't agree with same sex marriage. Divisions in the debate cut across party lines. Stephen Timms, the shadow employment minister, was interrupted by his Labour colleague Lyn Brown when he said that the bill would undermine the central basis for marriage – raising children. Brown, 52, said: "[He] was at my wedding and I was not young when I got married. It was highly unlikely that I was going to be able to, after all that time, procreate. Is he telling me that my marriage is less valid than anybody else's?"
"Marriage is one of the most important institutions we have. It binds families and society together. It is a building block that promotes stability. This bill supports and cultivates marriage." Timms said: "No, I certainly am not and I was delighted to attend [her] wedding ... Children are the reason marriage has always been so important. If it was purely about a loving relationship between two people then it would have been much less important than it has actually been."
Robert Flello, a shadow justice minister, spoke out against the bill. Duncan Hames, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham who is parliamentary private secretary to Nick Clegg, raised concerns that registrars may face setbacks in their careers if they decline to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies.