Gay marriage fallout: 2

The Mayor of London may be getting credit for his stance on gay marriage but some MPs who followed their consciences and voted against the bill are facing a torrent of criticism. Sarah Teather, who said her decision had been one of the most difficult she had ever taken and was based on her fear that marriage was being decoupled from family life, has been attacked on Lib Dem blogs and website. Some have accused her of pandering to the Muslim vote and told her that she should not deny same-sex marriage to those who want it. Interestingly little has been said by Lib Dem blogs about Sir Alan Beith, who also voted against. Beith is well known as a Methodist local preacher and his vote probably caused less surprise than Teather’s. The Brent Central MP in the past has been a supporter of gay rights. In political circles there was surprise at the number of Labour MPs who either voted against the bill (22) or abstained. Catholics and evangelicals were prominent among the names. Stephen Timms, a widely respected Christian MP for East Ham, was among those who did not vote. Michael Meacher, a left-wing MP but a practising Anglican who spent time as a theological student, was a surprise on the list of Labour MPs who did not vote. Gordon Brown also appeared on the list. No surprise there, perhaps, because he rarely votes in the House of Commons but seasoned Brown-watchers say that he has never shown great enthusiasm for gay rights.