Poll finds 54% support same sex marriage

A new poll by YouGov for the Sunday Times has found that 54% of people support a change in the law to allow same sex couples to marry, with 37% opposed.

The poll released on the eve of a controversial debate in the House of Commons which begins later today, suggests a small but significant majority favour marriage rights for gay and lesbian partners.

The Marriage Bill was comfortably carried in a vote on its second reading in February and returns today for its third reading amid a flurry of vocal opposition and a series of tabled amendments.

The political parties will offer their MPs a free vote on what is regarded as a matter of conscience.

A significant number of Conservatives are expected to vote against the bill or support an amendment to allow further exemptions, including teachers and registrars. MPs from their coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats, support the bill.

Labour MPs, with a few exceptions, support the bill which should in theory enable it to become law.

However a further amendment to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples has been tabled by Conservative MP, Tim Loughton.

The Equalities Minister, Maria Miller, has criticised the move as likely to cause the collapse of the entire bill due to delay and additional cost. Labour is thought to be considering supporting the amendment on the basis that it would ensure greater equality between gay and straight couples. Labour argues that the Government has exaggerated the amendment's potential disruption and that it is using the opportunity to undermine its own bill to deflect growing disquiet among its backbenchers.

But Maria Miller told the BBC that the amendment "introduces complexity, which would not only delay the passage of the bill through parliament but … would also put forward a number of quite fundamental policy issues which would need considerable thought and consultation."

The gay rights organisation Stonewall has warned strongly of the risk of supporting amendments which might complicate or jeopardise the bill's passage through Parliament.

YouGov Poll

YouGov's poll asked the question: "Would you support or oppose changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry?"

54% of the public sample supported

37% opposed

9% said they didn't know

The Conservative supporters polled oppose the bill by a small distance (48% oppose, 45% support, 6% don't know), while 53% of UKIP supporters oppose the bill (38% in favour, 9% don't know). A majority of Labour and Lib Dem voters support a change in the law.

You can find the full poll results and analysis here.

Plymouth's MPs

Plymouth's city MPs Oliver Colvile (Conservative, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport) and Alison Seabeck (Labour, Plymouth Moor View) are both expected to support the bill, having backed its second reading in February. Gary Streeter, the Conservative MP for South West Devon was not able to vote in February because he was chairing the proposed legislation through committee. He is believed to be against the proposed change in the law.