Gay marriage Bill clears Commons

MPs voted by 366 to 161, a majority of 205, last night to give the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill a third reading – a result that was greeted by applause from some members of the House.

Two Tory cabinet ministers – Welsh Secretary David Jones and Environment Secretary Owen Paterson – voted against the Bill, along with 10 junior ministers.

The legislation will now go to the Lords, where it is expected to attract fierce opposition from peers, especially the bishops.

Ahead of the vote, Tory Equalities Minister Maria Miller admitted the plans had been the subject of “strong opinions” on both sides, with the principles involved meaning it was impossible for some Tories to support the Bill.

But she urged MPs: “Let us make equal marriage possible, because it is the right thing to do, and then let us move on.”

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons: “This Parliament can now join Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Norway, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Uruguay and France, who have just passed their own legislation.

“And, of course, New Zealand whose MPs last month celebrated their gay marriage legislation in fabulous style, by breaking out into song.”

Ms Cooper, MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, went on: “I have heard Conservative members talk about the anger in their constituencies.

“And I hope they will now be able to stop talking about the anger and start talking about the joy.

“Because this is about the joy that we can deliver to those that want to get married just as their parents did.

“Let’s be loud and proud, let’s start the singing. Let’s celebrate, not discriminate. Let’s put aside the anger and hear it for the joy.”

Demonstrators against the proposals held a vigil opposite the Palace of Westminster as the debate took place.

Last night’s result was an improvement for David Cameron on the vote at second reading, when 175 MPs opposed the plans.

It will also have come as a relief for Downing Street following an attempt on Monday by Tory former minister Tim Loughton to derail the Bill.

Mr Loughton tabled an amendment extending civil partnerships to straight couples – a move which could have cost an extra £4bn in pension liabilities and might have scuppered the chances of the Bill becoming law.

Labour, mindful that they did not want to help wreck the Bill, decided against supporting Mr Loughton and instead offered ministers an 11th-hour deal to immediately review the possibility of extending civil partnerships to straight couples.

The Government accepted their proposal and Mr Loughton’s amendment in the end was easily defeated.

Monday’s debate also saw a number of Conservative backbenchers condemning the Bill.

Tory former Defence Minister Sir Gerald Howarth said he believed there was an “aggressive homosexual community” who saw gay marriage as a “stepping stone to something even further”.

And Tory veteran Edward Leigh claimed voters with traditional views on gay marriage were being subjected to bullying and name-calling.

He said: “It seems to many of us if you dare to disagree with the new orthodoxy that gay marriage is the best thing since sliced bread, you are somehow breaking a new social taboo, you are doing something in your workplace, particularly in the public sector, that you should not be doing.”

Opinion: Page 13.