# British House of Commons votes today on equal marriage **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 5, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371 "2013-02-05T09:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/1 "2013-02-05T09:00:01Z")
Fingers and toes all crossed, it looks like even the Tory troglodytes can’t derail this one. [The first reading looks likely to pass.](http://www.c4em.org.uk/support-for-equal-marriage/) And the Tory right have warned that it could tear apart the Tory party and damage their results at the next general election. So, a win win all round 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/2 "2013-02-05T09:04:34Z")
All my fingers are crossed. Come on, let’s move out of the dark ages! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/3 "2013-02-05T09:06:56Z")
You’re a few years late to the party. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/4 "2013-02-05T09:09:27Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > You’re a few years late to the party. So we’ll just not bother then as we’ve lost the ‘race’? I think this is a day for optimism, not one-upmanship. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/5 "2013-02-05T09:54:25Z")
Do you know what time they vote? I can’t seem to find it. (I wanna know how much longer I’ve got to keep my fingers crossed, they’re going numb) ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/6 "2013-02-05T10:23:44Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > Do you know what time they vote? I can’t seem to find it. > > (I wanna know how much longer I’ve got to keep my fingers crossed, they’re going numb) I think it’s in the evening. So we’ve got a whole day of angry evangelicals phoning up radio shows to suffer through. I only maintain my composure by knowing that it will pass. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/7 "2013-02-05T10:42:17Z")
Ah thanks. And I found this: “Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill:Second Reading (may continue until 7.00 pm).” ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/8 "2013-02-05T11:00:44Z")
[nitpick]This is actually **Second** Reading [/nitpick] - First Reading is always a courtesy and a Bill is never shot down at that point. ---
**Author:** ![martu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@martu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martu)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/9 "2013-02-05T11:52:45Z")
I see this getting through today but struggle to see this going through the Lords. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/10 "2013-02-05T11:55:25Z")
Shouldn’t all you people be publicly vocal about this right now? I mean, sitting here with your fingers crossed is all right and well, but I would hate it the only ones phoning up radio shows the angry evangelicals. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/11 "2013-02-05T12:13:43Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Shouldn’t all you people be publicly vocal about this right now? I mean, sitting here with your fingers crossed is all right and well, but I would hate it the only ones phoning up radio shows the angry evangelicals. It’s a free vote, and there is a solid majority in the Commons for “Yes”, albeit there are around 180 Conservative MPs who will vote “No”. But frankly it’s a done deal, and media outlets are just giving the vocal minority a voice. In a years time it will be just a commonplace fact of life. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/12 "2013-02-05T12:34:38Z")
What Greenback says. The Commons are mostly in favour but I can foresee some heel-dragging in the Lords. However their Lordships have undergone a lot of change lately and I think even there it will eventually pass. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/13 "2013-02-05T13:25:34Z")
I think the Lords will wave this through, not that they can stop it anyway. Nobody influential in that chamber is going hang themselves on an issue that has such cross-party support in the Commons. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/14 "2013-02-05T13:30:43Z")
Hurrah! I suspect it’ll find support with the vast majority of the population. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/15 "2013-02-05T13:46:24Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Shouldn’t all you people be publicly vocal about this right now? I mean, sitting here with your fingers crossed is all right and well, but I would hate it the only ones phoning up radio shows the angry evangelicals. No worries, there has been plenty of vocalness 😉 I know loads and loads of people have contacted their MPs about it. Lots of my friends put copies of their letters & the reply on facebook. But that work is done now. Now we wait. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/16 "2013-02-05T13:49:50Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I think the Lords will wave this through, not that they can stop it anyway. Nobody influential in that chamber is going hang themselves on an issue that has such cross-party support in the Commons. Well, the bishops will have a strop but that’s to be expected. Between the bishops in the Lords and the Catholics in Scotland, the clergy railing against the flood tide of public opinion are proving themselves a right bunch of Cnuts. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/17 "2013-02-05T14:02:33Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Well, the bishops will have a strop but that’s to be expected. Between the bishops in the Lords and the Catholics in Scotland, the clergy railing against the flood tide of public opinion are proving themselves a right bunch of Cnuts. At least Cnut knowingly demonstrated the limits of his authority. It does get a bit tiresome when the local Scots media seek out the opinion of Cardinal O’Brien on, well, anything. Still, time and tide are against his stupid moron opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/18 "2013-02-05T14:19:30Z")
From 5Live: “Marriage is such an important component of what it means to be a Conservative” - says a dissenter. The presenter, Richard Bacon “So why are you wanting to restrict it?” Another dissenter: “The importance of marriage is that is the gold standard for procreation” Bacon: “What do you think of two 70-year-olds getting married?” Dissenter: “Errr, God, God, God, ummmm errrr” ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/19 "2013-02-05T14:33:20Z")
‘Gold Standard for procreation’? What does that even MEAN? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371/20 "2013-02-05T14:49:51Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > From 5Live: “Marriage is such an important component of what it means to be a Conservative” - says a dissenter. > > The presenter, Richard Bacon “So why are you wanting to restrict it?” > > Another dissenter: “The importance of marriage is that is the gold standard for procreation” > > Bacon: “What do you think of two 70-year-olds getting married?” > > Dissenter: “Errr, God, God, God, ummmm errrr” Best I’ve read today ‘What will stop a man marrying his son to avoid inheritance tax’. (Erm, mate, they could just have a civil partnership. Or maybe we shouldn’t tell them that one). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-house-of-commons-votes-today-on-equal-marriage/649371.md?page=2)