Last night, something seriously big happened in the House of Commons – MPs voted to legalise same-sex marriage and liberalise abortion laws in Northern Ireland.
Stonewall called the move “a huge step forward for LGBT equality in the UK”, while Marie Stopes dubbed the abortion vote “a historic day for women’s rights”.
But while the results were undoubtedly a watershed moment for campaigners, the changes backed by MPs in Westminster are not a done deal – the Stormont government could still overturn the plans.
Why Were MPs Voting About Rights In Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government for the past two-and-a-half years.
In 2017, the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed after a power-sharing agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP broke down and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned.
On Tuesday, MPs debated legislation about pushing back the date at which Karen Bradley – the Northern Ireland secretary – must legally call a fresh assembly election to October 21 in a bid to give parties “more time and space” to come to an agreement.
However, MPs also used the bill to further campaigns about abortion and same-sex marriage, submitting amendments to the legislation for the Commons to vote on.
Northern Ireland is the only country in the UK where same-sex marriage is not already legal and the law bans abortion in all but the most extreme cases – not including rape, incest or fatal foetal abnormality.
But What Does That Mean For Abortion Rights And Same-Sex Marriage Laws In Northern Ireland?
According to the amendments about abortion rights and same-sex marriage successfully passed by MPs, the government will only be required to make the changes if Stormont fails to reconvene before October 21. Any future assembly could also overturn or amend the law.
But Labour MP Conor McGinn – who tabled the equal marriage amendment – said he hoped that the devolved government would be working again within the three-month deadline and would back the change.
How Have Parties In Northern Ireland Reacted?
The Democratic Unionist Party has come out strongly against the moves to liberalise abortion laws and to introduce gay marriage, with the party’s Westminster leader Nigel Dodds describing the equal marriage proposal as an attempt “to drive a coach and horses through the principle of devolution, overriding the concerns of people in Northern Ireland”.
Meanwhile, Simon Hoare, Conservative chairman of the Northern Ireland select committee, said he was “very frightened” these amendments could collapse the talks to re-establish power-sharing at Stormont.
Hoare said: “If they proved to be a reason, an excuse or smokescreen to collapse the talks coming from either end of the spectrum, that would be lamentable.
“I do not believe that this House should do anything to jeopardise those fragile talks.”
However, the change about equal marriage have been welcomed by the SDLP and the Alliance, whose party’s leader Naomi Long said: “Our society has taken its next step towards being dragged into the 21st century.”