February 6, 2013 10.42 am This story is over 139 months old

Which four Lincolnshire MPs voted against equal marriage?

Gay marriage rights: Out of the seven Lincolnshire MPs, all of which are Conservative, four voted against equal marriage for same sex couples, and two in favour.

MPs in the Commons voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, by 400 to 175, a majority of 225, at the end of a full day’s debate on Tuesday.

The bill, which reached a second reading in the House of Commons, would allow same sex couples the same rights to be wed as straight couples.

Now, the wording within the bill will have to be scrutinised in the Commons, then it will need to pass through the House of Lords.

In Lincolnshire however, the seven MPs, all of which are Conservative, voted mainly against the bill.

Only Mark Simmonds (Boston and Skegness) and Nicholas Boles (Grantham and Stamford) voted for the bill, while Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) did not vote.

Lincoln’s Karl McCartney, Gainsborough’s Edward Leigh, Louth and Horncastle’s Sir Peter Tapsell and South Holland and The Deepings’ John Hayes all voted no.

Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, failed to get the majority of his party to support the bill.

The Conservative Party is very divided in opinion — 127 Tory MPs were in support, while 136 opposed it and 40 MPs either voted both ways (abstaining) or did not vote.

Lincolnshire votes

  • Boston and Skegness – Mark Simmonds – YES
  • Gainsborough – Edward Leigh – NO
  • Grantham and Stamford – Nicholas Boles – YES
  • Lincoln – Karl McCartney – NO
  • Louth and Horncastle – Sir Peter Tapsell – NO
  • Sleaford and North Hykeham – Stephen Phillips – Did not vote
  • South Holland and The Deepings – John Hayes – NO