All 1 Debates between Steve McCabe and Gary Streeter

Strengthening Couple Relationships

Debate between Steve McCabe and Gary Streeter
Tuesday 14th January 2014

(10 years, 3 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Gerald Howarth Portrait Sir Gerald Howarth
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Who is “we”?

Steve McCabe Portrait Steve McCabe
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I think that I can speak for my side of the House, Mr Streeter. When it comes to strengthening couple relationships, the hon. Member for Aldershot has been clear. He is talking about heterosexual couples. We learned about his views on this issue during the debate on same-sex marriage. He has repeated them honestly today in this debate and in his ePolitix article, in which he states that marriage

“for the majority of Conservative MPs can only be between a man and a woman”.

I do not think that in this day and age it is possible to make such a narrow distinction, because whatever the views of individuals, the law and society are clear: “couple relationships” can mean married, cohabiting, heterosexual and homosexual relationships, however difficult that is for some people to accept. I acknowledge that many people put great store by traditional marriage, but that does not mean that we can deny the reality of what we see around us.