The House of Commons, in London, voted today to legalise same-sex marriage. The Prime Minister won the vote with a comfortable margin of 400 to 175 against. The bill will now pass to the House of Lords, where it is expected to face stiffer opposition.
The bill has divided David Cameron’s Conservative party, with more than half of his own MPs voting against the bill, and the Prime Minister relying on support from the Liberal Democrats and Labour to win the vote.
Although the bill is likely to face a tougher challenge in the Lords, it is predicted that the bill will become law, by May.
Gay marriage bill ‘weakened’ Cameron
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21348798
David Cameron has said that last night’s large majority in the Commons in favour of same sex marriage in England and Wales is “a step forward for our country”.
In the free vote, 18 Conservative members of the government – including two cabinet ministers – opposed the legislation
Sir Roger Gale, a Conservative MP who opposed the proposed legislation, told Today programme presenter Justin Webb that amendments needed to be made to the bill and warned that disaffection with the David Cameron championing the legislation could weaken his position.
“The prime minister has achieved a huge amount, in all sorts of directions, but over this particular issue, I happen to believe he’s profoundly wrong.”
“I think it weakens his position, and given the task that he’s got on his hands at the moment… that’s not good news.”