HUDDERSFIELD MP Barry Sheerman has changed his mind about gay marriage.
In May the veteran Labour backbencher told the Examiner he thought there was no “great pressure” to allow same-sex weddings.
But Mr Sheerman said yesterday he had changed his mind and now backed the proposed change.
The Government plans to hold a vote in the House of Commons on the plan to legalise gay marriage in England and Wales.
Religious groups would not be obliged to host same-sex weddings if the change went ahead.
Mr Sheerman told the Examiner yesterday: “When I first talked to gay people they said they already had parity through civil partnerships. They said that gay marriage was something they didn’t particularly need.
“But I’ve listened to the discussions and I’ve been persuaded that this is important to a lot of people in our community.
“I’ve mulled it over and I’ve decided there are certain times when it’s right to change your mind.”
Mr Sheerman added that his new-found support for gay marriage had been strengthened by a rally against same-sex unions on the fringe of this week’s Conservative Party Conference.
“I saw the speakers and it was a bunch of extremely Conservative figures like Ann Widdecombe with whom I wouldn’t identify,” he said.
“I thought ‘My God. I was right to change my mind.’”
