A London MP is embroiled in a furious row after “equating” Christian MPs’ opposition to gay marriages to people who resisted the abolition of slavery.
Former minister David Lammy was accused of “playing the race card” by a Tory critic of same-sex weddings during the heated Commons debate.
The two London MPs clashed as the Bill completed its Commons stages.
Defending gay marriage, Tottenham MP Mr Lammy, who is black, declared that it was a “noble fight”.
Condemning Conservative MPs opposed to the controversial reform, he said: “They know that this House was split for 20 years on the issue of whether black human beings were human or chattel.
“There were Christians in this House who sought to suggest that black human beings were chattel, and that somehow it was a matter of conscience and we should not end the slave trade.”
But Tory MP David Burrowes, the MP for Enfield Southgate, hit back last night: “There have been comments that have gone beyond tolerance.”
He accused Mr Lammy of “equating” the position of Christian MPs and others who are against gay marriage with parliamentarians who defended the slave trade some 200 years ago.
“By playing the race card and accusing the Bill’s opponents of being in step with the racists and traffickers of years gone by, he is offending not just me — that does not matter — but the majority of the black and minority ethnic communities who are opposed to the Bill?” Mr Lammy responded that he was “greatly saddened” that Mr Burrowes had accused him of “playing the race card”, which he denied.
The Government’s plans to legalise gay marriage cleared the Commons last night despite more Tory MPs voting against the proposals than voting in favour of them.
A total of 128 Tory MPs voted against the Bill at third reading, while only117 voted in favour of it. Six MPs voted both ways.
PM: gay pupils can stand tall
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David Cameron today declared he was “proud” of the gay marriage Bill that has created bitter divisions in his party. He said gay schoolboys could “stand that bit taller” now. But the Tory leader signalled he will move on from the controversy by pledging to be “absolutely focused on the big picture” from now on.
And he used a BBC radio interview to warn that he will not be pushed by Tory MPs into bringing forward an in-out EU referendum. “There will be young boys in schools today, who are gay, who are worried about being bullied, who are worried about what society thinks of them, who can see that the highest Parliament in the land has said that their love is the same as everyone else’s love, and that we believe in equality,” Mr Cameron said.
The Prime Minister also disowned the reported remark by a close ally that activists were “swivel-eyed loons”, saying: “It is not what I think.”
Joe Murphy
