Attorney General thought gay marriage bill wasn't necessary (From Bucks Free Press)
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Attorney General thought gay marriage bill wasn't necessary
12:20pm Friday 8th February 2013 in News By James Nadal
Attorney General thought gay marriage bill wasn't necessary
DOMINIC Grieve, the Beaconsfield MP, says he abstained over the gay marriage vote in Parliament because he questioned its necessity.
The Attorney General, whose constituency includes Marlow, was one of 176 Conservative MPs who did not support the Government.
Normally he would be bound by collective responsibility as a Cabinet Minister to vote with the Government – or have to step down.
But the Prime Minister allowed a free vote and two Cabinet members in fact voted against the bill.
Mr Grieve insisted his decision would not have come a surprise to his colleagues.
Despite his reservations, Mr Grieve emphasised he does not believe the bill will force churches to have same sex marriages against their will.
He told the MFP: "I don't think that will happen. Nevertheless, there's a question about whether this legislation is in fact needed and whether it's necessary and the right way of going about creating equality. I have doubts about that."
A large number of constituents wrote to him about the issue.
"This was the biggest I've ever had, it ran to hundreds and hundreds of emails," he said.
"Overwhelmingly these were against the proposal."
A few did support the bill though some members of the Beaconsfield Conservative Association have indicated they will resign as a result, he added.
He believes the impact on the Conservative party has been exaggerated, with differences in opinion on all sides of the House of Commons.
Wycombe MP Steve Baker, Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan and Aylesbury MP David Lidington voted against.
Comments(9)
Scarletto
says...
3:35pm Fri 8 Feb 13
Peter Cyprus
says...
4:14pm Fri 8 Feb 13
Scarletto wrote:The only people who suffer discrimination are english speaking white, Christian heterosexuals! Obviously you are talking about homosexuals who currently have the same rights as heterosexuals to Marty someone of the opposite sex.
Dominic Grieve and some of the other Tories are disloyal to their party, their colleagues in the House and still persist in their discrimination against a minority who just want equality with others. No more than that..
Peter Cyprus
says...
4:15pm Fri 8 Feb 13
Peter Cyprus wrote:Should, of course read 'marry'.
Scarletto wrote:The only people who suffer discrimination are english speaking white, Christian heterosexuals! Obviously you are talking about homosexuals who currently have the same rights as heterosexuals to Marty someone of the opposite sex.
Dominic Grieve and some of the other Tories are disloyal to their party, their colleagues in the House and still persist in their discrimination against a minority who just want equality with others. No more than that..
Mutley
says...
6:33pm Fri 8 Feb 13
thethe wrote:I don't know what "it" is, but if you're referring to opposition to the bill then I would say it's far more likely that opposition would come from muslims, sikhs, hindus, the black community and others whose faith means a lot to them rather than white middle-class Beaconsfield-ites.
It's indicative of the white middle class middle aged population who live in his constituency.
yog
says...
7:31pm Fri 8 Feb 13
downleylocal
says...
10:22am Sat 9 Feb 13
Peter Cyprus wrote:I think Marty was right all along.
Peter Cyprus wrote:Should, of course read 'marry'.
Scarletto wrote:The only people who suffer discrimination are english speaking white, Christian heterosexuals! Obviously you are talking about homosexuals who currently have the same rights as heterosexuals to Marty someone of the opposite sex.
Dominic Grieve and some of the other Tories are disloyal to their party, their colleagues in the House and still persist in their discrimination against a minority who just want equality with others. No more than that..
Old Paths
says...
1:08pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Outside of that the PC brigade have it !
Bill Taxpayer
says...
4:42pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Peter Cyprus wrote:What about a homosexual's right to marry the person they love?
Scarletto wrote: Dominic Grieve and some of the other Tories are disloyal to their party, their colleagues in the House and still persist in their discrimination against a minority who just want equality with others. No more than that..The only people who suffer discrimination are english speaking white, Christian heterosexuals! Obviously you are talking about homosexuals who currently have the same rights as heterosexuals to Marty someone of the opposite sex.
thethe says...
3:04pm Fri 8 Feb 13