Danny Alexander: I’m @Out4Marriage in Scotland as well as England and Wales
Liberal Democrat MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has made a statement to the Out4Marriage campaign, saying he was committed to passing legislation that would allow for same-sex marriage.
MPs will vote on equal marriage on Tuesday 5 February when the House of Commons considers the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales.
Mr Alexander said:
I believe in equal marriage. Marriage is an institution which is about two people who love one another making a commitment to one another for the rest of their lives. I think that is a right that should be available to couples whether they are straight, or whether they are gay. That’s why I support equal marriage. As a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament I’ll be voting for it when it comes before the House of Commons, and I’ll be encouraging other MPs to do the same. I fully understand the objections of those people who don’t think this is the right thing to do, and I certainly don’t want to force ministers, religions or churches to carry out wedding ceremonies that are against their conscience. But I think that as a society we have to recognise that we’re all equal. In a free and equal society marriage should be available to couples of all sorts. That’s why I’ll be voting for equal marriage myself, and why I want to see the Scottish Parliament pass similar legislation too. That’s why I’m Out 4 Marriage.
