Same-sex marriage law planned

A public consultation on how to make civil marriage available to same-sex couples is to be launched in March of next year.

The timing means that any necessary legislative changes can be on the Statute Book before the next election, scheduled for May 2015.

The move was announced by the Liberal Democrat Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone who is addressing the opening day of her party’s annual conference in Birmingham.

“I am delighted to confirm that early next year, this government will begin a formal consultation on equal civil marriage for same-sex couples,” she said.

“This would allow us to make any legislative changes before the end of this parliament.

“We will be working closely with all those who have an interest in the area to understand their views ahead of the formal consultation.”

The Lib Dems had been keen to claim credit for the move, which has the strong support of party activists.

However, senior Tories made clear it had been pushed through with the strong backing of David Cameron – despite the likely opposition of many Conservative traditionalists.

It is something that was in our equalities manifesto at the election and it is something the PM has been pushing for. Number 10 source

A No 10 source hinted that the Prime Minister had also had to overcome opposition within the Government to ensure it went through.

“It is something that was in our equalities manifesto at the election and it is something the PM has been pushing for,” the source said.

“He has been pushing for it in the sense that as the head of the Government he makes sure it goes through.

“When policies are going through, if the PM is willing them to go through then that’s helpful.”

The comments are likely to heighten tensions between the coalition partners as the annual party conference season gets under way.

The Lib Dems had been keen to claim credit for the move – which has the strong support of party activists.

Public consultation delayed

There was, nevertheless, some anger among gay rights activists that the consultation – which they had expected to be launched in June – had now been put back until next year.

“There no excuse for postponing it until March next year,” said veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell.

“I am not convinced that there needs to be any consultation at all. The ban on same-sex marriage is homophobic discrimination and should be repealed. The public supports marriage equality.”

He also criticised ministers for restricting the consultation to civil marriages and not extending it to church weddings and other religious marriages.

“It is an insult to people of faith for the Equality Minister to rule out any repeal of the ban on religious organisations conducting same-sex marriages,” he said.

“Some faith organisations, such as the Quakers and Unitarians, have expressly requested that they should be allowed to do so.”

However Mr Cameron could also find himself in hot water with his own grassroots supporters – many of whom are deeply opposed to the idea of “gay marriages”.

The government has already clashed with traditionalists and the churches over plans to allow existing same-sex civil partnership ceremonies to be held in religious buildings.

The Home Office confirmed the necessary regulations would be laid before the end of the year with a view to allowing the first civil partnership ceremony on religious premises to take place “as soon as possible” in the new year.