David Norris (Independent)

We often hear bad news on the Order of Business. We should, however, recognise that internationally there is some very good news. The electoral success of Mr. Barack Obama in the United States suggests that great country may at last be finding its conscience and moving away from the criminal enterprises of Mr. Bush. I hope Guantanamo Bay will not be closed, but cleansed of the present inmates who are given due process and that Messrs Bush, Rumsfeld, Rove and Cheney will be sent there if they are found guilty as a result of a trial for international war crimes.

I very much welcome another American event, that is, the heroic stance of Mr. Steven Spielberg in dissociating himself, as an adviser, to the Beijing Olympics because of the activities of the Chinese in terms of human rights. I place that in the context of the attempt by the British Olympic committee to muzzle those persons attending. This is a glorious opportunity to highlight issues such as the cultural genocide of Tibet and the extraordinary way in which the Chinese Government is operating as a colonial and imperialist power in Africa where it will buy up any quantity of raw materials, making the money directly available to dictators and thereby undermining the leverage of our overseas development aid.

I intend to withdraw the Civil Partnership Bill 2004 from the Order Paper in disgust at the way in which this matter is being treated. It has been on the Order Paper for nearly four years. I have taken it twice in my Private Members' time. I had thought of taking it again this time but I will not do so because I will not facilitate an evasive and queasy Government that appears to have no relish for this and has abrogated every undertaking given to me. We were told to wait for the report of the Colley committee. It went to the appropriate committee of both Houses, the committee on the family and the Constitution, and the Law Reform Commission. They have reported in the same way and yet nothing has been done. We were given an undertaking that the heads of a Bill at least would be prepared. We have had the indications of legislation from the Chief Whip's office but there is no sign of it. The heads of the Bill have not been prepared and have not been put before Cabinet.

I am not prepared to wait any longer. I attempted to behave in a very moderate way. In the explanatory memorandum to my Bill I indicated that I would not use the word "marriage" in deference to the religious sensibilities of people but now I will. I am now joining the campaign for full civil marriage for gay people in this country. We are entitled to no less. I am an equal citizen and if and when the Government eventually gets its courage together and introduces a Bill, I will wait to see how many people in this House are prepared to stand up and tell me that I am not worthy to have my relationships fully recognised, that I am a lesser human being than they are. The argument about diminishing marriage and diminishing the rights of other people is precisely the argument that was countered so effectively by Daniel O'Connell when it was used to try to deprive Roman Catholic citizens of the then United Kingdom of their full entitlements. I am an equal citizen of this Republic and I will take no less than full and equal rights.