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John Redwood said he voted against the bill after consulting with local people, more of whom were against the bill than for it
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MP John Redwood's reasons for voting against gay marriage

By Laura Herbert
February 13, 2013

Wokingham's MP revealed why he voted against the same sex marriage bill, while other MPs representing parts of the borough either abstained or were in favour.

The Marriage (Same Sex couples) Bill received its second reading with the support of Prime Minister David Cameron.

The House of Commons voted in favour of the Bill, by 400 to 175, a majority of 225 on Tuesday, February 5.

John Redwood MP posted on his blog: “I am very conscious I could not please everyone when the constituency is so split. I kept my word and voted for the side that wrote in in larger numbers, which meant voting No to the Bill.”

Dr Phillip Lee, MP representing Finchampstead, and Rob Wilson MP, who represents Woodley and Earley, voted both for and against – which count as an abstention.

And Home Secretary Theresa May, whose Maidenhead constituency includes Twyford and Wargrave, voted for same sex marriage.

Mr Redwood added: “My consultation with constituents has been wide ranging. Some responded to the request on the blog, where a majority favoured the Bill by a margin of four to one.

“I have also had 96 letters against and seven in favour. More have responded to my Parliamentary email, where a large majority opposed the Bill. In the two days before I had four emails in favour and 45 against.”

MPs were given a free vote on the controversial bill, meaning they were not ordered to vote a particular way by party whips.

If the bill becomes law it will allow same sex couples to get married in civil and religious ceremonies, the current law only allows them to engage in civil partnerships.

Dr Lee said: “What is clear to me is this Bill was not a priority for the great majority of my constituents. I received no communication on the issue prior to the Prime Minister raising the possibility of the Bill during his 2011 Conservative Party Conference speech. Furthermore, to my knowledge, there was no national campaign on the issue before that.”

Mr Wilson said the Bill was ‘rushed’.

He added: “This legislation has proved so controversial it should have the clear endorsement of the public.

“I am concerned this measure was not part of the Conservative Party’s manifesto or the Coalition Agreement. It means the democratic basis for such a major piece of social legislation is regrettably thin and the Government should have done more to seek democratic legitimacy for this measure.

“None of the political parties are unanimous on this issue. Some Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs, as well as Conservatives, voted against the Bill, even though their parties are largely in favour of proposed changes.”

“I can assure my constituents I am not taking this matter lightly and have done my best to listen to those wishing to express an opinion.”

The legislation will be further scrutinised by Parliament.

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@parlovero - some of what you are saying as a person is quite frankly shocking. At no one point has mavdo ever been homophobic. It's as annoying as those plonkers who shout racist just for uttering a colour.

And I quote: 'Homosexuality used to be restricted to adults over 21. Then it changed to 18. Now because of equality it is ok for adults to pick up 16 year old boys for sexual gratification. What happens when those with a desire for younger sexual partners start pushing for equality.'

You are quite clearly introducing there parallels of homosexuality and paedophilia. Not good.

I'm an atheist, who is very happy for others to practice religion as I can appreciate and respect that other people have different beliefs to my own and it almost always make them a law-abiding person with strong values. You clearly don't seem to be of that ilk.

It's frankly disgusting that you say 'all decent people spend time reflecting on the goodness of God'.

And without cockerels we wouldn't make it past a generation. Silly example.

alex_f, Wokingham
04/03/2013 at 13:17

Zzzzzzzz

mavdo, Wokingham
26/02/2013 at 08:27

crow, crow, crow, strutt, strutt, strutt,

Cocka doooodle doooo, Cocka doooodle doooo.

parlovero, Earley
25/02/2013 at 18:19

Baaaa baaaa baaaa.

Get yourself your own mind that can think for itself, then come back. You can't properly debate anything (as proven with your nonsensical posts that don't even attempt to understand the reality of the situation) without one. If you are continually told what to think, you are not in control. You are just doing the will of other people, none of whom will ever have anything other than their own best interests at heart.

We are Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

mavdo, Wokingham
25/02/2013 at 12:01

Cocka dooodle doooo. cocka dooodle doooo.

parlovero, Earley
25/02/2013 at 11:52

Cocka dooodle doooo. cocka dooodle doooo.

parlovero, Earley
25/02/2013 at 11:52

So you got preached more nonsense at you that like all the other sheep in the world unquestionably believed and decided to spout it out again. You don't have a mind of your own. You are an ant or a bee, just doing what you are told like a good little follower, no independant mind at all. You see all these things as you are told to see them. You are taught to fight against everything that might convince you that what you are believing is a load of tripe. And hence it makes your belief stronger. But all the while you lord it over the rest of society, convinced you are morally superior, which just makes everyone else sick, especially when it is your religion that regularly gets caught up in scandal after scandal after scandal. It's repulsive.

Your comment about me being homophobic are tiresome, incorrect, and libelous. *I'm* the one saying gay marriage is an important step towards equality. *You* are the one suggesting that homosexuals should have a different age of consent to everyone else. I have nothing against homosexuality. I could also report your comment for calling me a "scrote", but I'm a bigger man than that, unlike you.

And if you are such a part of a majority, how come you only got a couple of hundred in your little church? Your religion didn't exist 2000 years ago, and it practically won't exist in the educated nations within a few hundred years either. By then, you'll be in the ground, in your "afterlife". If there was such a thing, you'd be regretting your wasted little life as you did beliving a pack of lies fed to you by people who read something in a book. Christianity isn't even the biggest religion in the world, let along being the "majority". Get your facts right.

mavdo, Wokingham
25/02/2013 at 11:00

Ah monday morning and that splendid obsequious homophobic little scrote mavdo is still ranting his venom.

Along with a couple of hundred other decent people who are part of a world majority, i listened to a wonderful sermon on the secular society. It was likened to a farmyard where the cow, the horse and the chickens were all doing their bit. In life we have had the Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta who like the cow gave her life to giving without question for the benefit of others. The horse, like The late Holy Father John Paul and St Francis who give up everything to work for others with just their food asked for. Us the chickens who scrach about our daily business but give eggs continuously.

Amongst them is the cockerel, the atheists. They strutt and crow, make lots of noise. Always the same noise, crow, crow, crow, strutt, strutt, strutt. Apart from harrassing the chickens of the flock they do nothing, add nothing until they are wrung and seen in their true value.

You won't like the bit about getting stuffed mavdo. even if it is sage and onion as you find that distasteful.

Cocka doodle doooo.

parlovero, Earley
25/02/2013 at 09:53

'Where all good people spend time reflecting in the goodness of God' - yet more holier than thou tripe. You give church goers a bad name. Take your religious mantra and 'go' somewhere where people actually care. You complain that I'm stating I'm superior, which I'm not, and yet you come out with this statement, and thereby saying that because I don't waste my Sunday in a cold, old building, that I'm no 'good'. How dare you cast judgement in this way. That in itself is against the teachings of your own 'good book'.

Just because you believe something the majority of other people don't does not automatically give you the winning argument. But you won't, preferring instead to shout down everyone else's position.

Pathetic.

mavdo, Wokingham
24/02/2013 at 16:04

It's all here in black and white. Cut and paste where i said homosexuals were sexual predators waiting to prey on children.

"Calling me homophobic is quite frankly slanderous and deserves to be reported. I won't take them any further historically because I'm not as pathetic as you are and I don't cry 'victim' all the time," (Cut and pasted from your words.)

See you in court. we can then see where you have called me homophobic. Difference is i haven't said i disagree with homosexuality that is all in your sad little mind. You have.

What i find amusing is your stance that you are automatically right and everyone should bow the knee to the great knowledgable mavdo. You are a second rate atheist plonker who cannot put forward a straight debate so resort to threats of illegality and how everyone else needs psychiatric help if they don't agree with you.

You need a long holiday, preferably where you can get other vitriolics to shout at and develop a real life. Please stop copying my comments. If you can't think of anything original to say you miserable homophobe then say nothing.

Won't be able to reply again until monday as i am booked up at Church today. It's Sunday you know a Holy Day where all decent people spend time reflecting on the goodness of God.

parlovero, Earley
24/02/2013 at 12:35

You should see a psychiatrist as you are clearly dillusional, believing in superior beings and angels.

I NEVER said I disagree with homosexuality. I couldn't indulge in it because I find it distasteful, but I would never stop anyone else doing it. A man and a woman giving it tongues and all that in public would also be distasteful.

Calling me homophobic is quite frankly slanderous and deserves to be reported. I won't take them any further historically because I'm not as pathetic as you are and I don't cry 'victim' all the time, but I will if you continue with that thread. However it was you who claimed homosexuals were sexual predators waiting to prey on school children. That comment is illegal and could land you in serious trouble.

mavdo, Wokingham
24/02/2013 at 10:52

I don't know why you are homophobic i'm just going on your own admission (all here in black and white) that you find it distasteful and disagree with it.

I have a life thank you and a very good one too. I don't have to prove my superiority on a second rate blog as you do.

If It's all whatever junk you scribbled. Why are you so concerned about it? Is it because i see through you and you need to make a lot of noise to cover your insecurity. I should see a doctor or someone who will lend a kindly ear. A priest maybe.

parlovero, Earley
22/02/2013 at 17:37

More tripe from the fanatic who can't see fact from fiction because they are so blinded by the falsehoods preached at them in church and come out starry-eyed and living in the land of nonsense, convinced they are so morally superior to everyone else that they'll go to this mythical place of permanent pleasance when they die while everyone else repents for all their "sins" for the rest of time. It's just utter junk. But you are SO brainwashed, you are beyond saving. I can't convince you to believe fact when you are so embedded in fiction.

If I was homphobic, why would I be fighting for equality for gay people against a religious fanatic who wants them to be segregated and kept away from children?

Get a life.

mavdo, Wokingham
22/02/2013 at 16:41

Yawn Yawn. Same old cliches. Nothing new. Point the finger at someone else to cover your own admitted homophobia (All here in black and white). Shout louder, scream and stamp. Holler all you like you have said your piece and it's the same continuous, endless practised old atheistic mantra.

Hide behind your superior facade and try to sound learned. Might impress you, but it don't impress me. Happy homophobing (is that a word) carry on with your distaste of others who don't fit your little mind. Blame a Church, a vicar or a nun maybe. How about an immam or a rabbi. Doesn't matter as long as mavdo can sound important and hide his true deceit.

Good day oh losing one.

Did you like Narnia, I've never been. Maybe you're the Ice Queen.

parlovero, Earley
22/02/2013 at 16:06

Yes I've been to California. Do you believe Narnia exists? That's told in a book too!

"Mindless ramblings"? Yes(!), because *I'm* the one that believes in miracles and higher beings. What I'm saying is intelligent, but you are so stuck in your cult, blinded by your underlying beliefs that remain fundamentally unchallenged by your own mind, that you can't raise your head up for ten seconds to see how silly it all sounds. You are beyond saving. In which case, we'll just let you get on with it and leave you to one side while we carry on. Your continued homophobic and moralist bleatings only serve to show you as one of the backwards thinking people in the church who hold everyone else back. There are plenty of free-thinking people in the church, and some churches that are quite forward thinking and willing to accept change. I know quite a few. You aren't one.