Gay weddings: Labour says let vicars decide

VICARs who want to conduct gay weddings should be allowed to do so, a senior Labour MP has urged.

Labour health spokesman Wes streeting said the new blessings for same-sex civil unions created by the Church of England do not go far enough.

And he said it was a ‘tragedy’ that many young gay Anglicans such as himself chose to stop going to church because of its teachings on sexuality.

Mr streeting was speaking in the first Commons debate on last week’s controversial decision by bishops to retain their ban on gay weddings – while also apologising for homophobia in the church and introducing new thanksgiving services.

He said: ‘I would never cast my vote in a way that compels any place of worship to form same- sex marriages because I believe in freedom of religious belief.

‘But given this as an established church, surely permissive legislation that enables places of worship, to enable churches and priests to make that choice for themselves, would be a different matter.’

He went on: ‘I made the choice that I think many young gay Anglicans did have choosing to be myself and choosing not to go to church. And that is such a tragedy for so many, particularly young Anglicans across our country.’