UK Parliament votes to implement same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland

The U.K. Parliament’s House of Commons has voted overwhelmingly to approve legalizing gay marriage in Northern Ireland.

In a 383-73 vote, the legislature approved an amendment introduced by Member of Parliament (MP) Conor McGinn officially instating LGBTQ marriage in Northern Ireland, the BBC reported on Tuesday. Same-sex marriage has for five years already been the law in the other entities of the United Kingdom, including England, Wales and Scotland.

{mosads}Northern Ireland’s government is “devolved,” meaning it is able to legislate independently from the British Parliament on some issues. However, the government body collapsed in 2017 and has not been able to reform with a ruling party due to disagreements between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party, according to the Independent.

Gay marriages will be legal in Northern Ireland after Oct. 21 unless its devolved government reforms before then and holds a vote on the issue. 

The vote was part of a broader series of votes on issues surrounding Northern Ireland’s government Monday in Parliament. The House of Commons also approved, 332-99, an amendment extending abortion access in Northern Ireland, which was introduced by Labor MP Stella Creasy. Abortion is currently illegal in the country. 

MPs and others were quick to celebrate the votes on social media.

WE DID IT !!!!!

The House of Commons has voted by a massive majority to introduce same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland if the Stormont Executive isn’t restored by 21st October.

Thank you to @Love_EqualityNI & the thousands of people who have campaigned for equal marriage. pic.twitter.com/TDalAw1VIg

— Conor McGinn (@ConorMcGinn) July 9, 2019

We did it!! Huge thanks to @ConorMcGinn Lord Hayward and all MPs who voted in support of the bill. LGBT people in NI will be waking up a little more equal tomorrow #LoveWins

— Love Equality NI (@Love_EqualityNI) July 9, 2019

Thank you to everyone who today stood up for equality in Northern Ireland – whether for same sex marriage or abortion, today we have said everyone in the UK deserves to be treated as an equal. There’s a road to go yet but today a big step forward #TheNorthISNext #LoveEquality

— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) July 9, 2019

But critics of the amendments slammed the votes Tuesday and criticized the London-based legislature’s move to step into Northern Irish politics. Nigel Dodds, deputy MP for the Democratic Unionist Party in Parliament, said during a four-hour debate about the legislation that it would “drive a coach and horses through the principle of devolution.”