Lords debate begins: December 15th

There was plenty of speculation over the last few weeks as to whether or not the Equality Bill would make it to the Lords before Christmas. Original word from the Equalities Office and others in-the-know had predicted no action until January at the earliest. But it’s now confirmed and set in stone: December 15th will see the Second Reading debate in the Lords.

A word on procedure: the Second Reading debate is intended to act as a ‘broad brush strokes’ debate, so no amendments will be voted on at this stage: that will have to wait until January, after Parliament returns from the Christmas break.

Lords Committee, where the crucial amendments will be discussed, will probably begin around the 14th of January, and carry on over the following two weeks. We’ll obviously let you know the key dates as and when they emerge.

Our campaign will nonetheless use the debate next week as an opportunity to give notice that we will be submitting amendments - both to lift the current ban on Civil Partnership Ceremonies from taking place in religious premises, and to remove the exemptions in the Equality Bill which continue to allow the persecution of gay members of the clergy. Details of these amendments to follow.