Bedfordshire MPs have been talking about their views on gay marriage after a pivotal House of Commons vote last night.
Andrew Selous, Conservative MP for South West Beds, voted against proposals giving same-sex couples the right to marry..
He said: “I was doing what the overwhelming majority of my constituents asked me to do. My belief is that all the rights and privileges of marriage are fully available within civil partnership.
“I wasn’t happy about changing the meaning of marriage, which has been the same for thousands of years.”
Luton South MP Gavin Shuker did not take part in the vote. He wrote on his blog that he remained concerned that legal challenges to new legislation could be brought, which could see clergy forced to conduct same sex marriages.
Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins voted in favour of the bill. He said: “Couples who love each other and want to make a long-term commitment to each other, should be able to marry, regardless of their gender or sexuality.”
Mid Beds Conservative MP Nadine Dorries voted against, saying she thought the bill had been “shoddy” and “patronising” towards gay people.
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