British MPs have backed an amendment to the Equality Act aimed at protecting ‘conscientious beliefs on 
marriage’, voting 86 to 31 at the first reading of a private member’s Bill. The timing of the vote is highly significant as it comes a week before the second reading of the Government’s Same-Sex Marriage Bill.
The Bill was introduced by senior Conservative, Edward Leigh.
The vote is a reminder that there remains widespread concern amongst MPs that the Government’s plans to redefine marriage do not make adequate protection for those who oppose the changes on conscience or religious grounds, the Christian Concern news website reports.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Leigh warned that the Government’s forthcoming Same-Sex Marriage Bill does not offer any protection for those with traditional views on marriage.
Mr Leigh also referenced a number of recent cases where individuals have been disciplined in the workplace for their beliefs on marriage.
Adrian Smith, a housing trust manager in Manchester, was demoted for saying on his facebook page that same-sex weddings in churches were an “an equality too far.”
The European Court of Human Rights recently heard cases of two Christians – Lillian Ladele and Gary McFarlane – who lost their cases in the British courts because of their Christian views on sexual ethics.
Expert legal opinion has also highlighted grave concerns about the potential impact of the Government’s Same-Sex Marriage Bill on workers with strong beliefs on marriage. Aidan O’Neill QC suggested that teachers, parents, foster carers and hospital and army chaplains could be disciplined for their beliefs.
The second reading of Mr Leigh’s Bill is scheduled to take place on 1st March.
Meanwhile, senior Tory opponents of the Government’s plans to legalise same-sex marriage claim that as few as one in three Conservative MPs will support the bill next week, the Daily Telegraph reports.
David Burrowes, the Conservative MP, said he had surveyed his colleagues’ views and believed that up to 200 of the 303 Tory MPs could refuse to vote for the Bill.
Campaigners against the reform have calculated that some 139 Conservatives will either vote against the Bill or abstain when it is debated in the Commons for the first time on Tuesday.
Mr Burrowes suggested that the final number of opponents could be significantly higher without further concessions.
Mr Burrowes is a member of the government in his role an aide to the Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, who is also known to oppose the reforms.
He said many Tory MPs were “not satisfied” by the safeguards that have been offered to prevent religious groups being forced to marry gay and lesbian couples against their will.
Some will wait to see whether ministers make further concessions to protect “religious freedoms” before deciding whether to vote against the Bill at a later stage, he said.
However, there could be more Conservatives “voting against than in favour” of the Bill on Tuesday.
“I’m increasingly confident of the view that there will be well over 100 (against),” Mr Burrowes told The Daily Telegraph.
“I would suggest that the government may struggle to find a hundred Conservative colleagues in favour. The issue for the government will be whether they can get more than a third of the party to vote for them.
“A number genuinely have concerns and want to see those reflected in changes to the Bill. Unless they are satisfied, there could be a lot more who will be voting against.”