The Christian Institute

MPs vote in favour of general
principles of 'gay marriage' Bill

12 October 2004: MPs in the House of Commons have voted in favour of the general principles of the Government's Civil Partnership Bill. The Bill introduces 'gay marriage' in all but name. MPs voted by 426 to 49.

There will be further debates in the Commons on the details of the Bill. This will include debating whether close family members who have shared a house as adults for twelve years or more should be included in the scheme.

This proposal was inserted into the Bill by the House of Lords. It makes the Bill fairer and less like marriage. The Government is determined to remove it from the Bill. The Conservative Party leader, Michael Howard, also thinks it should be removed.

Several backbench MPs spoke in opposition to the Bill. Edward Leigh, Gerald Howarth and Ann Widdecombe all said the Bill would weaken the status of marriage. Northern Ireland MPs, Ian Paisley and Martin Smyth, argued against the Bill and said that it should not apply to Northern Ireland.