Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

Andrew Turner Excerpts

Tuesday 16th July 2013 Commons Chamber

The British Humanist Association has certainly proved extremely willing to work with the Government, the Opposition Front-Bench team, Back Benchers and Cross Benchers to find solutions to the various obstacles encountered during the Bill’s passage. I am pleased that, as a result of those discussions, a compromise position was reached so that we can now have a proper review of the legislation, fully considering the implications of legalising humanist wedding ceremonies in England and Wales and having the power to make changes in future. I hope that, one day soon, we will be able to celebrate humanist weddings as well as same-sex weddings.

[Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con)]

Could the right hon. Lady assist me by explaining the difference, if there is one, between marriage and weddings? She seems to be using the latter form rather than the former.

[Yvette Cooper]

Weddings are fabulous celebrations, and I really love going to them, but I do not love going to marriages. Marriage is something that people commit to for the whole of their lives—it has ups and downs; pain as well as pleasure and beauty—so it is obviously a very different thing from the one-day fabulous celebration that we all want to enjoy at weddings. However, I think we have a great opportunity to celebrate both weddings and marriages—that is what the Bill is about—and that long-term loving commitment that two people want to make to each other: to put up with each other when things get tough, to look after each other through illness or old age. Being able to make that commitment is hugely important. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh) clearly seems to find this something he does not want to celebrate. I suspect he would celebrate such loving commitment in an opposite-sex marriage, so why will he not do so in a same-sex marriage as well? I urge him to do so, to give us a smile and just enjoy the fact that other people are going to get married as a result of this legislation.