The UK's Parliament plans to move forward with the legalization of gay marriage in England and Wales, after conservatives offered to allow heterosexual couples civil partnerships if gay couples could be married.
The Labour Party, a center-left political party in the United Kingdom, reached an agreement with the legislative body on Monday, when Culture Secretary Maria Miller said publicly thanked all parties for their "unwavering support," reported the BBC.
Details of the bill will be discussed until Tuesday, when the House of Commons performs its third reading-the last step before going to the House of Lords on Wednesday.
Supporters say that further review could lead to more delays, or it could make the bill veer off the map completely. They expect much opposition from the House of Lords.
However, Miller still maintained that the civil partnership bill will be reviewed "very swiftly."
Members of Parliament voiced their support of gay marriage overall in February, but are now talking about refocusing their efforts on other political topics, at the behest of Conservatives who are against the bill.
The UK's Conservative Party has recently felt some distance amongst its own, as attitudes concerning the party's grassroots clash.
Former Conservative minister Tim Loughton says he and his party will try to amend the bill, giving civil partnership rights to heterosexual couples.
He argued that the adjustment was a "wrecking" move, and that passing the amendment would take away from some of the "anomalies and flaws" introduced in the initial bill.
"If this amendment is passed...[it will] make the bill more palatable."
MPs receive one free vote on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, as it is an issue of conscience.
Miller informed MPs that there exist "fundamental policy" issues up for consideration, including retirement funds for heterosexual partners.
Despite the volley of back-and-forth argumentation, shadow equalities minister Kate Green said the most important thing is to put the legislation into action.
"We are certainly anxious to do all we can to ensure that same-sex marriages arrive as swiftly as possible on the statute book," she said. "We would not want to see anything put that ambition in jeopardy."
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