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Splits expected as MPs prepare to debate gay marriage Nick Clegg urges MPs not to 'derail' gay marriage plan
(about 1 hour later)
Plans to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales return to the Commons later, amid continuing opposition from some Conservative activists and MPs. Nick Clegg has warned against attempts to "hijack" proposals to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales ahead of key votes in the House of Commons.
The Marriage Bill was approved by a 225-vote majority when it was last debated by MPs in February, but nearly half of all Tories voted against it. Tory critics have tabled an amendment saying heterosexual couples should be allowed to have civil partnerships, if gay couples are allowed to get married.
Some critics have tabled an amendment saying heterosexual couples should be able to have civil partnerships. Ministers say the move, which Labour may back, would delay the whole bill.
But ministers call this a "complicated distraction" which may delay the bill. Mr Clegg said he backed extending civil partnerships in principle but would not allow the bill to be "derailed".
Culture Secretary Maria Miller told the BBC she wanted same-sex couples to be able to marry as early as next summer, as envisaged under the legislation. And Downing Street played down any suggested the bill would be dropped, saying the government "has a legislative programme and it is getting on with it".
But reconsidering the status of civil partnerships would delay that by two years, according to ministers who say it would prompt a fresh consultation period - and possibly have a knock-on effect of adding as much as £4bn to pension liabilities. The Marriage Bill was approved by a 225-vote majority when it was last debated by MPs in February, but nearly half of all Tories voted against it and many party activists remain deeply opposed to it in principle.
David Cameron has said the bill would help build a stronger and fairer society, and the bill also has the backing of the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour Leader Ed Miliband. The legislation returns to the Commons on Monday amid other divisions within the Conservative Party on Europe and attitudes towards the party's grassroots.
The return of the plans to the Commons comes amid other divisions within the Conservative Party on Europe and attitudes towards the party's grassroots. David Cameron has said equal marriage would help build a stronger and fairer society, and the bill also has the backing of the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour Leader Ed Miliband.
'Un-Conservative' But according to ministers, reconsidering the status of civil partnerships would delay the introduction of gay marriage by two years, as it would prompt a fresh consultation period and possibly have a knock-on effect of adding as much as £4bn to pension liabilities.
On Sunday, 34 current and former local party chairmen delivered a letter to Downing Street opposing the gay marriage policy as "flawed, un-Conservative, divisive and costing us dearly in votes and membership".
They complained of a "crisis of conservatism" and said Europe, same-sex marriage and the "contempt" for party membership from the leadership were currently "destroying the party".
Ed Costelloe, former chair of the Somerton and Frome Conservative association, said the government had "no mandate" for legalising gay marriage, which he believed the majority of people opposed.
However, a separate letter, signed by more than 100 Tory activists, called on the party's MPs to back same-sex marriage legislation.
They praised Mr Cameron for his stance, saying it was an issue of particular importance to younger voters, and MPs risked appearing out of touch if they pandered to a vocal minority.
MPs get a free vote on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill because it is considered an issue of conscience.MPs get a free vote on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill because it is considered an issue of conscience.
Two of those opposing it at its second reading in February were cabinet ministers - Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Welsh Secretary David Jones.
Last week, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said too much time had been spent on a policy which had angered many.
'Clear inequality'
Among the Conservatives supporting the bill is the former Tory minister Nick Herbert, who is in a civil partnership.
He told the BBC that churches would be protected from having to hold same-sex weddings and the bill's "time has come" as attitudes have changed.
"No political party, I think, can survive unless it's in touch with the prevailing attitudes of the day," he said.
MP Tim Loughton is among a group of Tories who will try to amend the bill, with a plan to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.MP Tim Loughton is among a group of Tories who will try to amend the bill, with a plan to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.
He said the amendment would address a "very clear inequality" of the bill that would mean heterosexual couples would "only have the choice of a marriage".He said the amendment would address a "very clear inequality" of the bill that would mean heterosexual couples would "only have the choice of a marriage".
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said some in Westminster were saying the amendment was an attempt to "wreck the bill" because it could delay its passage beyond the general election.BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said some in Westminster were saying the amendment was an attempt to "wreck the bill" because it could delay its passage beyond the general election.
'Fundamental change''Fundamental change'
But Mr Loughton said opponents and supporters of gay marriage could both coalesce around the amendment But Mr Loughton said opponents and supporters of gay marriage could both coalesce around the amendment.
"Far from being a wrecking measure, some of the strongest support for my amendment to extend civil partnerships comes from the biggest supporters of same-sex marriage in the Labour and Lib Dem parties," he said."Far from being a wrecking measure, some of the strongest support for my amendment to extend civil partnerships comes from the biggest supporters of same-sex marriage in the Labour and Lib Dem parties," he said.
Ministers say the status of civil partnerships should be reconsidered at a later date and doing so now would throw up a whole new set of "complex" issues, such as pension entitlements for heterosexual civil partners.Ministers say the status of civil partnerships should be reconsidered at a later date and doing so now would throw up a whole new set of "complex" issues, such as pension entitlements for heterosexual civil partners.
"I want to see marriages being undertaken under this bill as early as next summer," Maria Miller, who is equalities minister as well was culture secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today. "I want to see marriages being undertaken under this bill as early as next summer," Maria Miller, who is equalities minister as well as culture secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"To put in at this stage such a fundamental change, I believe, risks that and risks significant delay. I think those supporting that need to be aware of that.""To put in at this stage such a fundamental change, I believe, risks that and risks significant delay. I think those supporting that need to be aware of that."
She added: "We want to get this bill focused on what it set out to do which is to open up marriage to more people and make sure it stays absolutely pivotal in society. This is a distraction." Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said it was his party's position to extend civil partnerships to everybody, irrespective of their sexuality and he had "no problem" with the principle.
'Playing politics' But he said he wanted the legislation to "do what it says on the tin".
"I don't want anything to interfere with the central purpose of this legislation," he said. "The bottom line is that I will do whatever I judge is best to safeguard the bill and to make sure that it does not become hijacked by those whose ulterior motive is actually to discredit or to derail the legislation."
'Crisis of conservatism'
Several Cabinet ministers remain opposed to the plans. Last week, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said too much time had been spent on a policy which had angered many
On Sunday, 34 current and former local party chairmen delivered a letter to Downing Street opposing the gay marriage policy as "flawed, un-Conservative, divisive and costing us dearly in votes and membership".
They complained of a "crisis of conservatism" and said Europe, same-sex marriage and the "contempt" for party membership from the leadership were currently "destroying the party".
Ed Costelloe, former chair of the Somerton and Frome Conservative association, said the government had "no mandate" for legalising gay marriage, which he believed the majority of people opposed.
However, a separate letter, signed by more than 100 Tory activists, called on the party's MPs to back same-sex marriage legislation. They praised Mr Cameron for his stance, saying it was an issue of particular importance to younger voters, and MPs risked appearing out of touch if they pandered to a vocal minority.
'Clear inequality'
Labour's equalities team, led by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, is set to support Mr Loughton's amendment.Labour's equalities team, led by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, is set to support Mr Loughton's amendment.
The party, whose support has guaranteed the bill's progress so far, accused the Tories of exaggerating the impact of changes to civil partnerships and their potential cost.The party, whose support has guaranteed the bill's progress so far, accused the Tories of exaggerating the impact of changes to civil partnerships and their potential cost.
Stonewall, which campaigns for equality for gay, lesbian and bisexual people, said those backing Mr Loughton's amendment were "no supporters of equality for gay people". Stonewall, which campaigns for equality for gay, lesbian and bisexual people, said it would be a "terrible pity" if the legislation got "bogged down" and urged MPs from all parties not to "play politics" with it.
"It would be a terrible pity if this piece of legislation, for which there is a lot of support in the country, got bogged down quite unnecessarily because people from parties on all sides of the House of Commons play politics," said its chief executive Ben Summerskill.
The bill will be debated over two days, with its third reading - the final hurdle in the Commons - on Tuesday. If approved, it will go to the House of Lords on Wednesday, where it is expected to face further opposition.The bill will be debated over two days, with its third reading - the final hurdle in the Commons - on Tuesday. If approved, it will go to the House of Lords on Wednesday, where it is expected to face further opposition.
Under the bill, the Church of England and the Church in Wales would be banned from offering same-sex marriages because of their strongly stated opposition, unless they changed canon law. Other religious organisations would be able to "opt in" to holding ceremonies. Under the bill, the Church of England and the Church in Wales would be banned from offering same-sex marriages because of their strongly stated opposition, unless they changed canon law.
There are currently no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland, but there are already plans for a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland. Other religious organisations would be able to "opt in" to holding ceremonies. There are currently no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland, but there are already plans for a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland.