MPs cheer assent for gay marriage

MPs cheered today as they were told gay marriage had passed into law.

Speaker John Bercow announced in the Commons that the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill had been granted Royal Assent by the Queen.

The Bill, which despite opposition was heavily backed by both MPs and peers, finished its passage through Parliament last night.

Notifying MPs of Royal Assent, Speaker Bercow said: “I have to notify the House in accordance with the Royal Assent 1967 that Her Majesty has signified her Royal Assent to the following acts... Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.”

MPs last night decided not to oppose a number of minor changes made by the Lords to the Bill, which will see partners legally allowed to wed from next summer.

Among the changes agreed were protections for transgender couples which will allow people to change sex and remain married.

There will also be a review of whether belief organisations such as the Humanists will be allowed to carry out marriages, while ministers said they were prepared to look at eliminating any difference in the treatment of gay couples when it came to pension schemes.