The people of Ireland have voted for equal marriage – something that caused outrage in England and Wales and something still rejected by Northern Ireland.

 
Equal marriage was an opportunity missed by the last Labour government and one that is alien to Conservatives.  Never did I think it would happen in the England in my life time, let alone in a country such as Ireland.

 
I first got involved in the fight for equal marriage back in the 1990’s and I was one of those initially happy that we had achieved an ‘equal, but different’ solution with Civil Partnership.  Legally it was identical in almost every way – except it wasn’t in the hearts and minds of many people.  Experience has shown how Civil Partnership has been as a reason to justify discrimination.

 
As neither of the two largest political parties supported equal marriage, I was sure that we would not see equal marriage anytime soon and health concerns meant that four and a half years ago we entered into a Civil Partnership.

Lord Dear, Alison Whelan and Christine Whelan

Liberal Democrats were behind the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act that brought equal marriage to Engalnd and  Wales.  I recall discussing in detail with Lord Dear his objections to equal marriage – a meeting that set in train my entry into  politics.

Today, another country has taken a leap towards fairer treatment for a minority group.

 
Perhaps that is an omen as we move into the coming days ….