The Government’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which is due for its second reading in the House of Lords later today (June 3rd), is set to be derailed by a “wrecking amendment” tabled by ex-West Midlands Chief Constable Lord Dear.
The Bill, which was passed in the House of Commons last month and is backed by Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour Leader Ed Miliband, has been met with fierce opposition by Conservative MPs, 133 of whom voted against it in May.
Lord Dear, who has accused his party’s leaders of pushing the Bill through without public support, has tabled the amendment to refuse it a second reading and, if passed, it would effectively kill the Bill in its tracks.
The debate, in which around 85 other peers are expected to take part, will take place today, whilst the vote on the Bill will take place tomorrow; with Lord Dear claiming the result of the vote is “too close to call”.
He is supported by a Tory grassroots group from Marlow in Buckinghamshire, who in a letter to the Telegraph yesterday said that there was inadequate time to debate the critical issues of the Bill in the Commons, and are urging the Lords to “speak up for democracy and throw out the Bill”.
If the Bill becomes law, gay couples, who can currently form civil partnerships, would be able to marry, although religious organisations would have to “opt in” to offer weddings, while the Church of England and Church in Wales are banned in law from doing so.