Same-sex marriage bill - how Wirral's MPs voted (From Wirral Globe)
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Same-sex marriage bill - how Wirral's MPs voted
10:34am Wednesday 6th February 2013 in News By Stephanie Cureton
Wirral MPs Esther McVey, Frank Field, Angela Eagle and Alison McGovern
WIRRAL West MP Esther Mcvey joined a massive show of protest by Conservatives yesterday as the House of Commons voted on gay marriage.
The borough’s Labour MPs – Frank Field, Alison McGovern and Angela Eagle – all voted in favour of the same-sex marriage bill, while Ms McVey voted against.
The minister for disabled people was one of 136 Tory MPs to disagree with the proposals which will see same-sex couples allowed to be married in both civil and religious ceremonies, the latter only with the consent of religious institutions.
Ms McVey expressed her worries about “redefining” marriage.
She said: "I believe in equality and equal rights for all, so we already have equality before the law and, for that reason, I am 100% supportive of civil partnerships which mirror marriage for same sex couples, therefore I believe that redefining ‘marriage’ is unnecessary given the established legal rights through civil partnerships. .
"The Civil Partnership Act 2004 created a union which is very similar to marriage. Civil partners have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples in many areas including tax, social security, inheritance and workplace benefits."
Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday's result was a “step forward for our country” as the bill was supported by a large margin of 400 to 175.
MPs had been given a free vote, which meant they were not ordered to vote a particular way by their party whips.
Wirral South MP Alison McGovern said it was important to acknowledge how society has changed.
She said: “The thing that’s really important to me is that in the debate, we heard people from all parties saying why equality was important to them.
“We have taken steps to make sure that equal respect is given to everyone and this vote was the culmination of how society has changed.
“We will now be watching as the matter progresses but I think the House of Commons’ view was made very clear yesterday.”
Wallasey MP Angela Eagle, who entered into a civil partnership with her partner in 2008, said: “I am very pleased that there was a large majority last night voting for the bill and in particular, I am proud that Labour had far fewer people voting against it than any other party.
“It will make our society more understanding and a kinder place to live in.”
The vote followed more than six hours of stormy debate on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the legislation would make England and Wales "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 the Government had no mandate for such a "massive social and cultural change".
Four of the 56 Liberal Democrats opposed the legislation at second reading - including former coalition minister Sarah Teather
Comments(13)
jimisugly
says...
1:27pm Wed 6 Feb 13
People who are gay do not get to choose, its the same as someone who is left handed. Society once tried to force these people to be right handed, but they cannot change who they are anymore than a gay person can change who they fall in love with.
Love is love - and a union of 2 people in love from whatever religion should be recognised and treated no differently to anyone else.
David Scott
says...
1:43pm Wed 6 Feb 13
what has been puzzling is why the Conservative government was so keen to rush at this now.
It seems the answer, as with so much that now affects us, is
legislation by the EU. The ‘Berlinguer Report’, is soon to be put into
law in the EU, and paragraph 40 requires any EU state to recognise the marriages and civil contracts of all other member states and ‘grant all
social benefits and other legal effects’.
This means that people coming to Britain from Belgium, Spain, Portugal
or Sweden, where same-sex marriage is possible now, will have to have the same rights and benefits as British married or civil partnership
couples.
Presumably David Cameron has judged that it would be embarrassing to have same-sex marriage effectively imposed by the EU, so wants to appear to be acting on his own initiative.
Hugo1008
says...
4:15pm Wed 6 Feb 13
What puzzles me my particular member of parliament did not in any way seek my opinion nor ask the electorate for which way the majority would like them to vote.
I do think that on some occasions at least Members of Parliament should seek some kind of mandate from the electorate, even if its just out of courtesy to those who bother to vote.
That way the electorate would feel that things are being carried out in accordance with their wishes, as this particular issue was so very hyped up to be of dramatic importance to the general population.
I am fed up with officials once in office pay no respect or credence to the people who put them there but pursue either their own personal agenda, or even worse a Party Political Directive without a democratic consensus.
Take note MPs and Councilors you are in post to represent the population and electorate in your particular patch.
Hon
says...
7:13pm Wed 6 Feb 13
Positive thinker
says...
9:52pm Wed 6 Feb 13
Positive thinker
says...
9:52pm Wed 6 Feb 13
Positive thinker
says...
9:54pm Wed 6 Feb 13
Hon
says...
9:23am Thu 7 Feb 13
PaulCa
says...
11:23pm Fri 8 Feb 13
In your dreams. This person is way out of her depth, should be feeling the heat some day soon and will be consigned to history where she belongs. We can then relax at least a little bit - (as long as Phil Davies doesn't replace her.)
The sooner this happens the better.
Wirralrob
says...
2:36am Sat 9 Feb 13
Eshter McVile - really is a foul piece of work.
Hiutsuri
says...
7:05pm Sun 10 Feb 13
Cammell Laird Shipyard,Birkenhead have made a man redundant 1 week before death.
On informing them his only treatment was palliative Cammell Laird made the employee redundant.
The man died one week later.
His widow was therefore not entitled to death in service benefit.
Contact the following for further information.
Cammell Laird HR Manager Danny Hart
Cammell Laird Chief Executive John Syvret
MP:Frank Field / Alison McGovern
Union:Amicus / Unite
Positive thinker
says...
3:11pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Hon says...
11:31am Wed 6 Feb 13
What people need to understand that this is about equal marriage in the eyes of the law? As a catholic my poor parents were subjected to the discussions in church and even the poor priest was very uncomfortable preaching that some forms of love and companionship is wrong. There is no way to dance around it the church is sadly picking and choosing which aspects of the bible to apply to their own agenda. The fact remains that the church is part of the UK but it doesn’t have the right over Civil Law or how we define civil marriage. I know no one who wants to force a church to marry us nor do we want to see that happen. There are many people who are not religious but still are married in churches. Many older people marry and one of the views is that marriage is to procreate. I'm pleased we are moving forward as a society that involves all people from various backgrounds to form an equal law applicable to all in principle. Love is love and it’s not relevant whom someone falls in love with. Celebrating love equally is important.