As Paul Tully, SPUC's general secretary, told the media this evening:
"A significant number of Lords who support same-sex marriage said that the bill does not have their unqualified support. Also, some Lords with objections to same-sex marriage did not vote against the bill this evening because of disputed parliamentary conventions restricting voting rights.For the sake of our children and our children's children, we must maintain our absolute opposition to same-sex marriage.
Several Lords were wary of rejecting the bill at second reading because of fears that the government would subject the bill to the Parliament Act – overriding the Lords entirely and forcing the bill through without any scope for amending any aspects of it.
These factors, plus the large number of Lords who voted against the bill, suggests strongly that the bill could be in trouble in the forthcoming parliamentary stages. We therefore call upon all those seeking to defend the child-centred true nature of marriage to increase their activity to stop the bill.
Redefining marriage in law as a genderless institution unconnected with child-bearing will strip marriage of its identity. Whatever the fate of the government's bill, we must continue to fight to preserve the protection real marriage gives to children, both born and unborn.”
People wishing to lobby Members of the House of Lords should contact SPUC on 020 7091 7091 or by email to political@spuc.org.uk
For further information, see:
- SPUC position paper on same-sex marriage: http://www.spuc.org.uk/documents/papers/ssm201201
- SPUC background paper: http://www.spuc.org.uk/documents/papers/ssmbackground20120103
- Research "What happens to marriage and families where the law recognises 'same-sex marriage'?" www.spuc.org.uk/campaigns/ssmsub20130301
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