Maria Miller

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities

There is no doubt about the fundamental value that we place upon marriage and its role at the heart of our society. Marriage embodies the principles of love, loyalty and commitment - all vital components of a strong society. And it is those principles that we are championing through the Equal Marriage Bill which continues its journey through Parliament tonight.

Damian Collins

Conservative MP and PPS

I believe that everyone should be equal in the eyes of the law, and that the lifelong commitment people make to each other when they make their marriage vows means something profound to them, and benefits society as a whole. I believe that these vows have great significance to the couples taking them regardless of their sex or sexuality.

David Burrowes MP

Member of Parliament for Enfield, Southgate

My amendments today give MPs the opportunity to give clarity and protection for freedom of speech and conscience that are under threat from the Marriage Bill. We have the opportunity today and tomorrow to uphold the fine British traditions of free speech, tolerance and marriage. I hope we don't miss it.

Gabriel Byng

Historian, writer and director of ChurchGuides.co.uk

One is a monstrous addition to the London skyline which dominates views of the city and has divided public opinion between those who hate it and those who loathe it. The other is the Shard.

Octavia Sheepshanks

First year Philosophy student at the University of Cambridge

When some of the most commendable feminists I know are men, this is a pretty confusing statement to be making. If we isolate roughly half of the population from the movement, what can we hope to achieve?

Karen Ruimy

Singer, author and co-founder of the global gender equality foundation, the GREAT Initiative

This week Eva Longoria invited me to co-chair the Global Gift Gala that she organizes every year in Paris, Cannes, London, Marbella, LA and Mexico. It is an amazingly generous event where she honors a charity and this year they are honoring the charity I established with Mariella Frostrup fighting for gender equality in the world.

Chris Rooney

A London office worker, trapped in the dating thunder-dome

When posting carefully curated images online, people have been known to go one step further, and actually post a picture of someone else. Whilst this may seem ludicrous, I would think there are scenarios in which this can appear to be a rational, even desirable, action.

Tony Gray

Expert bee keeper and founder of Adopt-a-hive

Bee numbers have been on the decline since the Sixties, so it is crucial to raise as much awareness as possible around their economical and environmental importance to encourage people to show their support for the British bee.

Kirsty Lemare

Digital Brand Development expert with expertise in content, digital strategy and social media

I like to consider myself a red-blooded woman. In the last couple of years though, I have experienced a total sense of ambivalence about the increasing levels of in-your-face sexuality that seem to have pervaded every waking moment of modern life.

HomeAway.co.uk

The UK's number one holiday rentals site

Wellies at the ready: it's nearly festival season. Whether you fancy a hip happening the Highlands, a DJ set in Wales or niche nighttime fun in Northampton, here are just eight of my favourite lesser-known festivals; and I think some of them may surprise you.

Anthony Eskinazi

Founder of ParktamyHouse

To try and attract shoppers with variety, it needs to be made easier and more accessible for new businesses to get space on the high street. While last year might have been terrible for the big retailers, it was a bumper year for startups.

Kate Thompson

Lifestyle Writer for Confetti.co.uk

It's so easy to get married, and yet with the divorce rate at an all-time high, it seems not so easy to stay married. There is so much written on the subject of how to have a happy marriage, and most notably by people on their second or third... These are people who have learned some valuable lessons through trial and error.

Pat Higgins

Film director, writer and producer

As soon as you start trying to protect people from the potentially offensive, the whole thing turns into a giant game of whack-a-mole. Potentially offensive things leap up from all directions, and no sooner have you squashed one than a dozen more potential shocking things pop up instead.
Because EVERYTHING is offensive. In some context. To someone.

Hannah Gal

Award winning filmmaker, writer and artist

Like so many sufferers, Joan and Gracie are both under 24-hour care after endangering their lives and putting their families through agonizing worry. From leaving taps running and stove fire burning to wandering to the shops wearing pyjamas and sitting at the bus stop at midnight waiting hours on end for the bus.

Ricky Gervais

Actor, writer, comedian, director, producer

I am so proud of The Ricky Gervais Show. Not just because of how well it turned out or how successful it was, or the awards, or even how much fun I had producing it. I'm proudest of the fact that it was just another experiment that got out of hand.

Bonnie Tyler

Singer, British entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013

So here we are: I'm going to be flying the flag for the United Kingdom at the 58th Eurovision Song Contest this year in Malmo, Sweden. And what's more - I am completely honoured to do it! I have to be honest, I wasn't sure at first - but then it suddenly dawned on me that this is an incredible thing. It's an amazing opportunity to represent your country for doing something you love.

Jeff Stelling

Sky Sports presenter of Soccer Saturday and UEFA Champions League

As the Soccer Saturday panel prepare for another final day fling, where will the traditional end of season drama occur? With Manchester United having won the title in a canter and second and third places are resolved, all eyes will be on White Hart Lane and St. James' Park where the battle for the final Champions League spot will be won and lost.

Peter G Tatchell

Human rights campaigner

The calls for banking reform are growing. About time. The big crash was more than five years ago. Since then we've had Libor rate-fixing, bonuses for failed financiers, massive fines for malpractices by leading banks, mis-sold PPI, interest rate swaps, fraud, money-laundering and tax dodging. Scandal after scandal. Are we mugs or masochists? Why do we put up with it? The rot has got to stop.

Theo Randall

Chef, restaurant owner

This risotto is great when the asparagus season has just started. However, even though it can be very expensive, a little asparagus can go along way as it has such a deep flavour. You can make this risotto with a vegetable stock but make sure it's fresh and not made from a stock cube - the result will be much tastier!

Rebecca Saxe

Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, MIT

cooperating in large groups is a signature accomplishment of the human brain: among similar species, we are remarkably good at working together and negotiating our differences.