Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Gilbert Excerpts
Thursday 19th April 2012

(12 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stephen Gilbert Portrait Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)
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Will my hon. Friend confirm that the Government do not intend to redefine religious marriage, but that they intend to extend equal marriage to civil and religious ceremonies?

Baroness Featherstone Portrait Lynne Featherstone
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I thank my hon. Friend for that clarification. That is exactly the case: we are not touching religious marriage or redefining marriage. Religious people may continue to believe that marriage can be only between a man and a woman. That is not the state’s view. We do not take the Orwellian view that

“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”.