UK Parliament / Open data

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

Proceeding contribution from Yvette Cooper (Labour) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 5 February 2013. It occurred during Debate on bills on Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

May I say to the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T. C. Davies) that I have taken interventions from many hon. Members on both sides? Given the number of people on the Government Benches who are desperate to speak in the debate, I am keen to allow them the opportunity to do so, even though they have strong disagreements with each other.

Often the opponents of previous measures have changed their minds and moved on. I hope the same will be true again. I hope that opponents today will look back in 10 years and be unable to remember what the fuss was about. Today, let us vote for people to be able to marry, for the sake of those couples who really want to wed; for the sake of the Quakers, the Unitarians and other religious organisations who want to celebrate same-sex marriage as part of our respect for freedom of faith; for the sake of equality, removing unfair discrimination and challenging prejudice; and for the sake of marriage, to keep it inclusive and in touch for the next generation. In marriage let us celebrate, not discriminate. Let us be on the right side of history. Let us vote for the Bill today.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
558 c142 
Session
2012-13
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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