Gay marriage: Legislation passes Commons despite Tory opposition (UK)

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

The Commons voted in favour of the The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, by 400 to 175, a majority of 225, at the end of a full day's debate on the bill.

Prime Minister David Cameron has described the move as "an important step forward" that strengthens society.

About 140 Conservative MPs are thought to have voted against the plans.

Former children's minister and Conservative MP Tim Loughton told the BBC that he believed "140 or so" of his party colleagues had voted against the plans, along with "a small rump of Labour MPs" and "four Lib Dem MPs".

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21346220

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Guardian live blog: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2013/feb/05/gay-marriage-debate-politics-live-blog

This means just over half of the Tory MPs voted against. It was a free vote, so there was no official party line, but the Tory leadership was in favour (as well as Cameron, the PM, the Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, and Home Secretary all said they were in favour of the bill).

[hrmjustin]

1. This is great news to hear.

I wish the conservatives here would move in the same direction. Congrats to the UK.

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. Outstanding!