North and West Devon MPs clash over gay marriage vote
The MPs for North Devon and West Devon and Torridge have expressed different opinions in yesterday's gay marriage vote.
While Nick Harvey, Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, voted in favour of same-sex marriages, Geoffrey Cox for Conservative MP for West Devon and Torridge voted in opposition.
Mr Harvey said of the bill: "This is not something I put on the agenda, it is something the Prime Minister put on the agenda and I just viewed it in terms of equality and equal rights.
"I appreciate a lot of people with strong religious convictions disagree with it but we are talking about a civil marriage in a registry office which is something people of no religion are entitled to on the same basis as anyone else.
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"I am confident there is no risk of forcing religious groups to do this if they do not want to. I think this is a natural progression of rights."
The majority of MPs voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill yesterday, with 400 for and 175 against.
But almost half of the Conservative party were opposed to the changes, wtih 136 voting against gay marriage and 127 in favour. 35 did not vote and five abstained.
The majority vote means MPs appove of the Bill in principle but it will require further scrutiny before being formally approved.
Gay couples can currently engage in civil partnerships but, if passed as law, the same-sex bill will allow them to have civil and religious ceremonies, giving them the same status as straight couples.
Prime Minister David Cameron was in favour of the bill.
7 Comments
by R_Sole87
Monday, March 11 2013, 3:21PM
“The word "bigot" is over-used, especially by more liberal people (and I am one). However, when you have people trying to stop other people from doing something in their own private lives which has absolutely no effect whatsoever on anyone else in the entire world, then that IS bigotted.”
by Nickers_99
Monday, February 11 2013, 1:09PM
“Of course trolling can be great fun, billinbarum25, but I'd start to worry when it makes you sound like a bigot.”
by billinbarum25
Thursday, February 07 2013, 7:33PM
“bait up, cast and wait...........yep a bite”
by Nickers_99
Thursday, February 07 2013, 3:00PM
“Billinbarum25 - and what is that exactly? Not yet heard a peep from Sir Geoff.
Interestingly, "most people" that I know are in support of this change. What does that tell us? I suppose that bigots usually surround themselves by bigots, perhaps so that they feel justified in their out-dated and ill-informed opinions? I couldn't possibly say.”
by billinbarum25
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 8:08PM
“Nick Havey is just as wet as usual, does and says just what he thinks his boss would like, Geoffrey Cox is saying what most people actually think,”
by Nickers_99
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 12:37PM
“I would love to hear Sir Geoffrey's reasoning behind this attempt to stifle the human rights of his constituents.”
by Rockall2011
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:19AM
“Congratulations to Nick Harvey and shame on Geoffrey Cox, who, is doubtless one of those Tories that Francis Maude (Cabinet Office Minister) criticised on BBC's Newsnight last night (Tuesday 5th February) for being stuck in the past and way behind public opinion.”