Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

Debate between Lord Alli and Lord Mawhinney

Monday 17th June 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Mawhinney]

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his intervention. He knows, perhaps better than most in the House, that I have a fairly strong commitment to freedom of expression. That commitment to freedom of expression and the Government’s commitment to freedom of expression have been there for years. However, that has not stopped people being accused of hate crimes, race crimes and religious crimes. I do not believe that simply using the term “freedom of expression”, or repeating it, will be any more effective than it has been over the past 30 years. Something simple needs to be put in the Bill that everybody can understand and behind which everybody, whatever their view of the issue, can take refuge, if necessary.

[Lord Alli]

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Turner, wished to speak but could not get up fast enough.