Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

Debate between Matthew Offord and Tom Harris

Tuesday 5th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)]

We have heard many claims that the Government are introducing this Bill to make marriage fairer, more equitable, and available to everyone in society. In December, the Minister for Women and Equalities stated:

“Marriage is not static; it has evolved and Parliament has chosen to act over the centuries to make it fairer and more equal.”—[Official Report, 11 December 2012; Vol. 555, c. 155.]

That may have been the case, but marriage as the union of one man and one woman has never changed in thousands of years. Issues such as property rights or where ceremonies can take place have changed, but the essential nature of marriage has not.

[Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow South) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way on that point?

[Dr Offord]

No, I will not because I would like to get through my speech.

This Bill would create “ungendered” marriage with two types of marriage available: same-sex marriage, or opposite-sex marriage. That will inevitably have implications on society’s view of marriage, but fairness will not be one of them. I will give way now.

[Mr Harris]

I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman. He talks about the unchanging nature of marriage over thousands of years. I do not know whether he is a Christian—he has not yet got to that part—but will he have a good look at the Old Testament? King David, a man described as:

“A man after God’s own heart”,

had not one wife or two wives but many, many wives and concubines. He had children by them all and was never once criticised by the priests or the writers of the Bible. Of course marriage has changed over many thousands of years—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are grateful to the hon. Gentleman but interventions must be brief.