MPs have voted resoundingly to extend abortion rights and same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland, after years of public activism.
The government has said it will honour the plan despite ministerial doubts, with the Commons voting 383 to 73 to pass the legendary amendment to a predominantly technical bill on the stalled Northern Ireland assembly.
Labour MP Conor McGinn tabled the bill, who is a longstanding campaigner for same-sex marriage rights in the province.
This is momentous. Thank you so much @ConorMcGinn for standing up for the LGBT community in NI. I’m shaking like a leaf and quietly confident that I’ll be attending some friend’s weddings in the coming years. #NowForNI #EqualMarriage
— Sara (@Teh_Woo) July 9, 2019
for @stellacreasy’s amendment!
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is not legal. Prior to the vote, Northern Ireland minister John Penrose insisted that the government would honour the result;
“Should this pass it will go into law,” he said. “It will become part of primary legislation. And so ministers will be bound by it and the government will proceed.”
MPs have also voted another amendment to the bill which will extend abortion rights to Northern Ireland, tabled by the Labour MP Stella Creasy, which is set to be a historic moment.
The government have said for a long time that both issues are devolved matters and shouldn't be imposed on the North by Westminster, but McGinn and Creasy emphasise that that action must be taken.
The assembly and executive have been suspended since January 2017 amid political deadlock. McGinn’s amendment would theoretically lead to a change in the law within three months if Stormont remains stalled.
The region's executive can approve or repeal the measure if and when the North's executive is united in government.
Selections of Amdts for #northernIrelandBill. @ConorMcGinn NC1 on equal marriage selected, NC14 from Grieve on recall from prorogation is not selected. pic.twitter.com/eu1kQC7TdQ
— Labour Whips (@labourwhips) July 9, 2019
McGinn told the Commons the house had “failed LGBTQ+ people in Northern Ireland before."
The MP said: “Tonight, we have the chance to do the right thing. People in Northern Ireland, and indeed across Britain and Ireland, are watching. I, for one, am not going to let them down. I hope colleagues do not let them down either.”
Congratulations Northern Ireland on this incredible achievement for the community.
Feature image: © Brendan Harkin/Love Equality