Gay Marriage Bill Saved By Deal With Labour

The legalisation of gay marriage is set to be approved by MPs later after surviving a Tory backbench attempt to derail it.

An amendment which supporters warned could scupper the legislation altogether was easily defeated after the Government reached an agreement with Labour.

Some 56 Conservative backbenchers - half the number predicted - backed a move to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.

Eight Labour MPs, three Lib Dems and three SDLP members joined the Tory critics but the measure was beaten in a free vote by a large majority of 370.

An embarrassing reverse was avoided after the Government accepted Labour calls for an immediate review of civil partnerships instead.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill is now expected to clear its final stages in the Commons today, although it will still face stiff resistance in the Lords.

Former Tory minister Tim Loughton accused ministers of making a "grubby deal" with Labour to see off his amendment and said the battle would continue in the upper chamber.

David Cameron is also still under fire from many in his own party who are vehemently opposed to the measure and warned it will cost vital Tory support.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller defended the Government's tactics and insisted there was "overwhelming support" for the change, including within the Conservative Party.

She had argued that extending civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples - supported in principle by many backers of gay marriage - would cause significant delays and costs.

The Government had initially tried to win over backbenchers by setting out plans for a review of civil partnerships after gay marriage had been in place for five years.

But Mrs Miller then accepted Labour demands for an immediate review as the price for the party's support.

A series of other amendments tabled by Tory opponents of the reforms were also defeated.

They included one which would have given registrars who objected to same-sex unions the right to refuse to conduct marriages which was backed by 150 MPs, including 122 Conservatives.

The vote came after a group of more than 30 current and former local party chairmen warned that gay marriage plans would make a Tory election victory in 2015 impossible.

Mary Douglas, a Tory councillor in Wiltshire, accused Mrs Miller of showing "clear contempt for the deeply-held views of Conservative supporters".

"Now they are leaving. Why are they leaving? Because they just cannot support something which goes against their core beliefs."

She claimed there was "no mandate" for a reform based on a consultation that was a "total sham of which any tinpot dictator would be proud".

The issue has become a focus for complaints that Mr Cameron is out of touch with his party.

But Mrs Miller said that while she respected people with different views, she believed the changes were "right for society".

"I understand the very important and pivotal role that our grassroots activists play and they are the backbone of our party. It is important that we understand that and important that we show respect for their views," she said.

"There are a wide range of views. That doesn't stop us though from having to tackle those issues and tackle them in a way which is right for society because I think fairness is an important principle that we hold proudly in this country."

Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley added: "I predict that in 10 years' time people will look back and wonder why they were against for so long."

But the Coalition for Marriage, which opposes the redefinition of marriage, claimed the Government had allowed Labour to attack a "£4bn ticking time bomb" by allowing a review of civil partnerships.

Campaign director Colin Hart said: "It's yet another twist that wasn't in anyone's manifesto. Civil partnerships are cracked open to allow in heterosexual couples.

"The Government has lost control, marriage has been left in limbo, it's a complete dog's breakfast, and the bill should be dropped before more damage is done."