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Gay marriage: Final reading in Commons Gay marriage: Cameron's plea to activists as Commons debate continues
(about 3 hours later)
The government's same-sex marriage bill is to receive a third and final Commons reading after surviving resistance from Tory opponents on Monday night. David Cameron has sought to mend fences with Conservative activists angry over claims an ally of his called them "swivel-eyed loons".
A proposal - which would have delayed the new law - to also allow straight couples to take up civil partnerships was defeated by 375 votes to 70. MPs will continue debating plans to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales on Tuesday after surviving opposition led by Tory backbenchers.
MPs instead backed a Labour plan to consult on civil partnership changes soon - rather than after five years. But Mr Cameron has emailed all Tory activists to say he would never employ someone who "sneered" at them.
Gay couples could now marry in England and Wales as soon as summer 2014. Lord Feldman has denied making the alleged comment about Tory activists.
While MPs gave their support in principle to gay marriage in February, proposed amendments to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill are being discussed over two days with a third reading - the final Commons hurdle - to take place later. The Tory party co-chairman is alleged to have made the remarks to newspaper reporters in relation to Europe.
If approved, it is expected to face further opposition when it goes to the House of Lords on Wednesday. But Tory backbenchers say the comments, if true, illustrate the "growing gap" between Mr Cameron's inner circle and ordinary party members.
'Glaring inequality' Civil partnership
In the Commons on Tuesday, MPs will vote on an amendment to the Marriage Bill, put forward by the Humanist Association, to allow recognised groups to officiate at marriage ceremonies. Tensions between Downing Street and grassroots Tories have also been fuelled by the same sex marriage proposals, with 136 backbench Tory MPs voting against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
At the moment, anyone taking part in a humanist ceremony must still have their marriage made legal through a register office. The bill cleared its second reading in the Commons with support from Labour and Lib Dem MPs.
Humanist ceremonies have been a fully legal form of marriage in Scotland since 2005. It is due to receive its third Commons reading later on Tuesday without facing opposition on a similar scale.
But it could face further opposition when it goes to the House of Lords on Wednesday and, if peers make changes to the Bill, they will have to be approved by MPs at a later date.
Proposals to also allow heterosexual couples to take up civil partnerships were rejected by MPs on Monday.
They instead backed a Labour plan to consult on civil partnership changes soon - rather than after five years.
In his email to Conservative activists, Mr Cameron said party members would not agree on everything and there would always be "criticism from the sidelines".
'Civic pride'
But he urged them to focus on what they had in common and on the bigger picture and said he was "proud" of the work they had done and of their "deep and lasting friendship" with him.
"Time and again, Conservative activists like you stand for duty, decency and civic pride," he said.
"That's why I am proud to lead this party. I am proud of what you do. And I would never have around me those who sneered or thought otherwise."
The PM needs the support of grassroots activists to help him campaign for an outright majority at the next general election.
But there is anger among some at his stance on gay marriage and Europe, with reports of defections to the UK Independence Party.
Tory MP Brian Binley, who has led calls for an investigation into Lord Feldman's alleged comments, said the prime minister had "done a few things that the party in the country overall didn't want him to do".
He added: "He may believe in them but we are talking about the gap between himself and the party.
"I think it is a growing gap, I think it can be put right and I think David Cameron is listening as proved by the fact that actions are now being taken."
The government wants gay couples to be able to marry in England and Wales as soon as next summer.
'Legal recognition'
MPs will vote later on an amendment to the Bill, put forward by the Humanist Association, to allow officially recognised groups, such as charities or voluntary organisations, to officiate at marriage ceremonies.
At the moment, anyone taking part in a humanist ceremony must still have their marriage made legal through a register office. Humanist ceremonies have been a fully legal form of marriage in Scotland since 2005.
Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "The amendment does not open up legal recognition for any new weddings other than humanist ones.Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "The amendment does not open up legal recognition for any new weddings other than humanist ones.
"Humanist weddings are popular and meaningful and legal recognition for them would be fair, timely, and not at all controversial.""Humanist weddings are popular and meaningful and legal recognition for them would be fair, timely, and not at all controversial."
But Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry said the plan was "not a particularly sensible amendment, whichever side of the argument you're on".But Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry said the plan was "not a particularly sensible amendment, whichever side of the argument you're on".
Among Monday's attempted amendments were one tabled by a group of Tory MPs led by former Conservative minister Tim Loughton aimed at extending civil partnerships, which came into force in 2005, to heterosexual couples. MPs supporting the amendment do not expect to win and the BBC's Norman Smith said that while ministers were prepared to listen, they did not think the bill was the "right vehicle" to make such a change.
Ministers had initially agreed that the status of civil partnerships should be reconsidered by 2019, with the possibility of doing so sooner if approved by Parliament. MPs will also debate related issues, such as the definition of non-religious marriage, proposals for "civil unions" between gay and heterosexual couples and changes to the benefits system arising from the legalisation of gay marriage.
Mr Loughton rejected claims his proposal was a "wrecking" measure, saying extending civil partnerships to co-habiting heterosexuals addressed a "glaring inequality" in current proposals.
'Unwavering support'
It was initially suggested Labour's equalities team might support Mr Loughton's amendment but it later put forward its own compromise proposal for an immediate consultation.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Culture Secretary Maria Miller thanked other parties for their "unwavering support" for the principles of the same-sex Marriage Bill and said a review of civil partnerships could take place "very swiftly".
Labour said the review could potentially take place within the next few months, enabling its findings to be reflected in the final legislation.
"We are certainly anxious to do all we can to ensure that same-sex marriages arrives as swiftly as possible on the statute book," shadow equalities minister Kate Green said.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was his party's position to extend civil partnerships to everybody, irrespective of their sexuality but the current bill could not be derailed.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said equal marriage would help build a stronger and fairer society but nearly half of all Tories voted against it in February.
In a series of free votes on gay marriage on Monday night, more than 100 Tory MPs registered their objections to different parts of the legislation.
MPs will get their final chance to vote on the bill on Tuesday night.