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Nick Clegg urges MPs not to 'derail' gay marriage plan Nick Clegg urges MPs not to 'derail' gay marriage plan
(about 2 hours later)
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.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.
Tory critics have tabled an amendment saying heterosexual couples should be allowed to have civil partnerships, if gay couples are allowed to get married.Tory critics have tabled an amendment saying heterosexual couples should be allowed to have civil partnerships, if gay couples are allowed to get married.
Ministers say the move, which Labour may back, would delay the whole bill.Ministers say the move, which Labour may back, would delay the whole bill.
Mr Clegg said he backed extending civil partnerships in principle but would not allow the bill to be "derailed".Mr Clegg said he backed extending civil partnerships in principle but would not allow the bill to be "derailed".
And Downing Street played down any suggestions the bill would be dropped, saying the government "has a legislative programme and it is getting on with it".And Downing Street played down any suggestions the bill would be dropped, saying the government "has a legislative programme and it is getting on with it".
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.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.
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 legislation returns to the Commons on Monday 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.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.
But according to ministers, reconsidering the status of civil partnerships would delay the introduction of same-sex 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.But according to ministers, reconsidering the status of civil partnerships would delay the introduction of same-sex 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.
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.
Tim Loughton is among a group of Tory MPs who will try to amend the bill, with a plan to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.Tim Loughton is among a group of Tory MPs who will try to amend the bill, with a plan to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said some in Westminster - including some Tory MPs - were saying the amendment was an attempt to "wreck the bill" because it could delay its passage beyond the 2015 general election.BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said some in Westminster - including some Tory MPs - were saying the amendment was an attempt to "wreck the bill" because it could delay its passage beyond the 2015 general election.
'Scaremongering''Scaremongering'
Mr Loughton said the amendment would make the bill "less unpalatable", since extending civil partnerships to co-habiting heterosexuals would address a "glaring inequality" in the current proposals as well as encouraging family stability.Mr Loughton said the amendment would make the bill "less unpalatable", since extending civil partnerships to co-habiting heterosexuals would address a "glaring inequality" in the current proposals as well as encouraging family stability.
"I don't want to delay this bill, we all want to be shot of this bill one way or another," he told the BBC."I don't want to delay this bill, we all want to be shot of this bill one way or another," he told the BBC.
He criticised forecasts of the cost of such a move as "back-of-a-fag packet" calculations.He criticised forecasts of the cost of such a move as "back-of-a-fag packet" calculations.
"This is all about equality. If the government is serious about equality they should be backing my amendment and not scaremongering about it.""This is all about equality. If the government is serious about equality they should be backing my amendment and not scaremongering about it."
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 as 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."
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.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.
But he said he wanted the legislation to "do what it says on the tin".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.""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''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.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".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".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".
However, a separate letter, signed by more than 100 Tory activists, 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.However, a separate letter, signed by more than 100 Tory activists, 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.
Labour's equalities team, led by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, had been thought likely to support Mr Loughton's amendment, but has now put forward its own amendment which would start an immediate consultation on whether to extend civil partnerships to opposite sex couples.Labour's equalities team, led by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, had been thought likely to support Mr Loughton's amendment, but has now put forward its own amendment which would start an immediate consultation on whether to extend civil partnerships to opposite sex couples.
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.
Ms Cooper said there was a danger this "whole debate is getting sucked into a vortex of Tory in-fighting".Ms Cooper said there was a danger this "whole debate is getting sucked into a vortex of Tory in-fighting".
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.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.
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.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. 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.
The UK debate comes the week after France became the ninth European country, and 14th in the world, legalise gay marriage. Earlier this month Rhode Island became the 10th US state to allow same-sex marriages.