MPs vote to back gay marriage plan
7:45pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News
David Cameron got his way as gay marriage legislation cleared its first hurdle in the Commons - but saw his party split down the middle.
After the Prime Minister made a last ditch appeal for support, the House backed the proposals by a big margin of 400 to 175.
However, with Labour and Liberal Democrats strongly in favour, it was clear that scores of Tories had taken advantage of the free vote to register their opposition.
The Labour Whips office suggested that 139 Tories had voted against the Bill, with 132 in favour. Dozens more did not vote.
The result followed more than six hours of stormy debate on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said it would make Britain "a fairer place to live", and insisted religious organisations which did not want to conduct gay marriages had protection.
But Tory MPs lined up to condemn the measures - including the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee Graham Brady, who said he had "serious misgivings" over assurances on religious freedom.
Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth said that the Government had no mandate for such a "massive social and cultural change", which was not mentioned in the Conservative manifesto for the 2010 election.
Speaking in Downing Street less than two hours before the crunch vote, Mr Cameron accepted that there were "strong views on both sides of the argument".
But he said: "I am a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to each other and I think it is right that gay people should be able to get married too."
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (65)
9:19pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Rawenergy says...
9:34pm Tue 5 Feb 13
davoovad says...
10:32pm Tue 5 Feb 13
BWFC71 says...
UKIP have wanted Gay Marriages for the last 5 years!!!!
It is about time people read what UKIP actually stands for, they would soon change their mind. UKIP now doesn't want out of the EU - they have got used to the gravy train, but want to change it from the inside!!!!
God Bless the new UKIP!!!
12:06am Wed 6 Feb 13
boydell says...
In a few years time the government will probably legalise pidophelia.
They havn't got a clue and I give up on this government altogether.
8:38am Wed 6 Feb 13
F.D.R. says...
9:35am Wed 6 Feb 13
Bob Shaftoe says...
10:40am Wed 6 Feb 13
F.D.R. says...
Do you have kids? What would you say to them if one of them told you they were gay?
10:53am Wed 6 Feb 13
marco999 says...
11:06am Wed 6 Feb 13
boydell says...
How can a government keep the people respect when they are bowing down to perverts. This is what is called a step too far.
In answer to your question about if one of my family told me they were gay. I would tell them to become celibate, not take an easy way out by choosing a samesex partner to gratify perverted sexual needs. Celibacy is not against the law of God.
11:14am Wed 6 Feb 13
F.D.R. says...
11:39am Wed 6 Feb 13
thealexweb says...
11:47am Wed 6 Feb 13
Harry-Joe says...
Why do people think they have a right to inforce their religous beliefs on other people or think that their opinion is better than someone elses?
You are being cruel to people you have never met and who have no impact on your or your life. How will letting a gay couple marry actually effect you? It wont unless you are gay.
Why would you try and stop someone else being happy for no valid reason. So you think its wrong and your entitiled to your opinion but why do you think everyone should live by your beliefs?
If there is a GOD and he says its Wrong then let gay people answer to GOD and not you!
Each to their own i say. What ever makes you happy.
If any of my children happens to be gay then i would rather them be gay and happy then living a lie and be unhappy.
2:30pm Wed 6 Feb 13
BWFC71 says...
there is NO passage in teh Bible that refers to acts of love between same sex as imorral or wrong in teh eyes of God!!! I suggest re-reading the bible, as it seems you have forggoten what it says - instead of reading Daily Fail scare stories!
3:30pm Wed 6 Feb 13
boydell says...
If he reads.. ROMANS1 18 to 32 "Gods wrath against mankind" it states clearly, ....
quote.."even women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones, in the same way men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with **** for other men. Men committed indecent acts with one another and received the due penalty for their perversion. Although they know Gods righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, the not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them",....unquote.
Read the bible and see for yourselves the word of God.
As for Harry Joes comment. It would make me very happy to go down to Tescos and fill a trolly and walk out without paying, but would that be the right thing to do just because it makes me happy ???
3:51pm Wed 6 Feb 13
F.D.R. says...
Can I check though that as you do follow the 'law of God' as described above you also subscribe that...
It is ok to sell your daughter into slavery:
Exodus 21:7
"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go free as male slaves do."
You do not work, shop or do anything on a Sunday and support the death penalty for those who do. (Hope you don't shop at Tesco on a Sunday)
Exodus 35:2
"On six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be sacred to you as the sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. Anyone who does work on that day shall be put to death."
Just want to make sure that when you wish to follow the law of God as directed litterally in the bible you are in fact following ALL of it. Not just a few select passages which you choose to select. Because, if you were to do that, I'm sure you'd be breaking the law of God!
So can you confirm that you support salvery and the death penalty for everyone who does anything on the sabbath??
4:06pm Wed 6 Feb 13
Harry-Joe says...
Dont be silly Stealing is illegal being gay is not.
And as for god and the bible... The bible contradicts its self throughout.
Did GOD write the Bible? No he didnt, so how do you know its his word? I think you will find GOD told me last week that he likes Gay people and welcomes them.... You should believe that as you obvuously believe anything.
Stop hiding behind GOD and face the fact this is your view and not 'GODS'!
And what has it got to do with anyone else if someone chooses to follow gods ways or not? Its up to them to answer to their GOD not to you or any of us.
Think about what all the GOD followers are saying. Other religions dont drink so does that mean everyone should not drink?
I dont care what people think GOD wants. I have a clear conscience and will be happy to face such GOD when my time comes. Its my life and my decision no-one elses.
4:07pm Wed 6 Feb 13
Harry-Joe says...
4:58pm Wed 6 Feb 13
F.D.R. says...
5:37pm Wed 6 Feb 13
boydell says...
6:58pm Wed 6 Feb 13
Love Bolton says...
Many my age see it ss a complete non issue and are rather surprised at the debate. I suppose at school in the 70s/80s it was a normal part of life to have gay/bi-sexual friends, so just really a non-issue.
Glad it has been finally sorted out though as must have been sad for those who wanted to marry.
7:43pm Wed 6 Feb 13
boydell says...
9:17pm Wed 6 Feb 13
BWFC71 says...
The Old Testament also allows genocide, racism, wars and these are just a few other things which we utterly object to and detest in the modern world.
Therefore by your understanding we should be killing off other species of Humanity, we should believe in racism and most importantly we should be advocating wars in every part of our world!
9:21pm Wed 6 Feb 13
BWFC71 says...
Who has the right to tell people what they should and should not be, or do. Are you and people like you dictators and controllers???
Are you Gods right ahnd man, did God write the Testaments or was in man?
9:25pm Wed 6 Feb 13
BWFC71 says...
Before getting married one has to be asked for forgiveness in having sex with your partner and acknowledge that sex is wrong - why?
Or how about this
What is Gods position on orgies, as they are never mentioned in the Bible?
Also anyone who belongs to the Church of England are blasphemous as they are believeing in a false God, due to the fact that God disciples, according to the Church, are NOT meant to marry, and are meant to be cleansed and without sin so they can preach the truth!!!
9:27pm Wed 6 Feb 13
BWFC71 says...
11:15pm Wed 6 Feb 13
FatMorrisOut says...
11:21pm Wed 6 Feb 13
FatMorrisOut says...
9:13am Thu 7 Feb 13
berushka says...
9:37am Thu 7 Feb 13
Bob Shaftoe says...
10:28am Thu 7 Feb 13
boydell says...
11:02am Thu 7 Feb 13
marco999 says...
11:32am Thu 7 Feb 13
F.D.R. says...
1:33pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Love Bolton says...
2:02pm Thu 7 Feb 13
mralwayscorrect says...
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mralwayscorrect says...
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Towny1981 says...
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WATOAOW says...
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Jesusislord says...
2:49pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Towny1981 says...
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Jesusislord says...
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KennySenior says...
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KennySenior says...
3:12pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Towny1981 says...
3:29pm Thu 7 Feb 13
davoovad says...
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Jesusislord says...
9:48pm Thu 7 Feb 13
FatMorrisOut says...
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FatMorrisOut says...
10:00pm Thu 7 Feb 13
KizzyB says...
10:07pm Thu 7 Feb 13
KizzyB says...
10:56pm Thu 7 Feb 13
berushka says...
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berushka says...
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Jesusislord says...
9:30am Fri 8 Feb 13
marco999 says...
12:02pm Fri 8 Feb 13
mdavies11 says...
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Jesusislord says...
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Towny1981 says...
1:06pm Fri 8 Feb 13
WATOAOW says...
1:16pm Fri 8 Feb 13
Jesusislord says...
1:55pm Fri 8 Feb 13
mdavies11 says...
7:55pm Fri 8 Feb 13
myfanwy7 says...
7:03pm Sat 9 Feb 13
KizzyB says...
6:01pm Sun 10 Feb 13
Jesusislord says...
2:15pm Tue 12 Feb 13
gladrill says...
2:21pm Tue 12 Feb 13
gladrill says...
3:46pm Tue 12 Feb 13
BWFC71 says...
What planet are you living on?
I for one agree with it totally. The conceptional idea that marriage is only between a man and a woman only came into being about 400 years ago. Before then anyone could marry anyone. In fact that principle still exists, and has never changed, with some faiths on this planet of ours.
Even during the Greek, Ottoman and Roman Empire days men could marry men and same for women, and no one battered an eyelid.
I whole-heartedly agree that homosexuals and lesbians can marry each other and have the same rights as a married couple. But I would now expand the concept so that those on civil-partnerships or those who loive together (of any combination - man and woman or man and man or woman and woman) would now have the exact same rights as a married couple.