David Cameron Britain’s House of Common’s has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a marriage equality bill, with it passing its first hurdle 400 to 175. The bill will have to go through more detailed parliamentary debates and a vote in the House of Lords, where a vote in favour is considered likely. Prime Minister David Cameron has personally championed the legislation and said it is "an important step forward" for Britain. "I am a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to each other and I think it is right that gay people should be able to get married too," he said. "This is, yes, about equality. But it is also about making our society stronger." The bill will let couples who have had a civil partnership convert it into marriage. Religious leaders can decide for themselves whether they want to hold same-sex weddings. If passed, the bill will come into effect in 2015.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 6th February 2013 - 9:25am