Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill (Programme) (No. 2)

Edward Leigh Excerpts

Monday 20th May 2013 Commons Chamber

[Sir Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) (Con)]

My hon. Friend the Member for Worthing West (Sir Peter Bottomley) has been typically generous to those with whom he is not in agreement, but I point out politely to him that although there was a majority in the House in favour of Second Reading, there was not a majority of Conservatives. The majority of Conservatives who voted voted against the measure. It was not in any party’s mandate at the last general election. It is therefore presumptuous of the Government to seek to railroad the measure through the House.

This is a very sensitive issue on which there are profoundly different views and huge concerns about the protections available to those who take a contrary view to that of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. So it is unfortunate that we have not had more time to debate the matter, and it is extremely unfortunate that, with one exception, no amendment was accepted by the Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, who was in charge of the Committee stage of the Bill. That exception was to do with something that he and I have in common—a concern for our armed forces.

[Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Sir Edward Leigh.

[Mr Leigh]

No, Mr Speaker, I am not—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

I am ever hopeful, against the odds, for the hon. Gentleman.

[Mr Leigh]

The real problem is that we have only two and a half hours to discuss serious issues relating to equality protection. Given that we have a very light legislative Session, surely the Government could have given more time for that.

[Sir Gerald Howarth]

My hon. Friend, whose elevation I hope you have quite rightly foreseen, Mr Speaker, is absolutely right. The Queen’s Speech did not contain many measures. I happen to be a Conservative who believes that we should be repealing measures and that it is a good thing that we do not have too heavy a Session.