Tory MP Peter Bone’s equal marriage ‘referendum’ bill to be debated by MPs in November

A private member’s bill for a referendum on plans to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales will be subjected to a second reading debate by MPs on 29 November 2013.

It has been tabled by Conservative MP and equal marriage critic Peter Bone, and was unveiled last month as part of an “alternative Queen’s Speech” by backbench Tories.

Mr Bone, MP for Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, suggested in March that the Church of England should respond to the reform by saying: “marriage is between a man and a woman so this is completely nuts”.

The amendment is separate to those being debated this afternoon by peers in the House of Lords as part of report stage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

Lord Singh of Wimbledon has tabled an amendment calling for a referendum on the same-sex marriage bill, which would mean that even if passes at all stages, the law would not come into effect until voters approved it in a referendum.

The crossbench peer’s amendment 96 urges for a potential referendum to be held on 24 October 2013, or if that date is unsuitable, on any date before 1 November 2014.

Previous attempts by equal marriage opponents to introduce referendums on the issue in the UK Parliament have amounted to nothing.

Both Houses of Parliament have continually given the same-sex marriage bill large majorities of support at every stage of the legislative process so far.

The bill is on course to receive Royal Assent by this autumn.

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