Gay Marriage
The modern basis of marriage is partnership and equality rather than innate difference.
Many in the upper house feel strongly that gay marriage legislation should not be allowed to pass. Here are a few of their reasons.
Tory opponents of the bill outnumber supporters as just 117 Conservative MPs vote in favour.
The GOP is embracing immigration reform and is under grassroots pressure to reverse its opposition to gay marriage.
Ed Miliband advised Labour MPs to vote against the amendment, rather than abstain, after Tory whips warned they could be defeated.
The party tables its own rival amendment to establish a consultation on introducing civil partnerships for heterosexual couples.
The complexity of the process should not dissuade the Government from sticking to its guns.
While some support the introduction of civil partnerships for heterosexuals, others warn of a "dark" and "cynical" attempt by Tory MPs to destroy the bill.
The Defence Secretary says civil partnerships make the introduction of equal marriage unnecessary, but he didn't vote for them in 2004.
The advice, given to MPs today, also refutes suggestions that unwilling clergy might be forced by human rights law to marry same-sex couples.
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