George Galloway MP, Glasgow Kelvin

voted ambiguously on the policy

Equal gay rights

by scoring 57.6% compared to the votes below

Someone who believes that Votes for improved rights for homosexuals, to make them the same as heterosexuals. would cast votes described by the policy.

Relationships (Civil Registration) - 24 Oct 2001 - Division No. 41
Policy 'Equal gay rights'Aye
George Gallowayabsent
Lab13010
Con440
LDem400
Total18161

I beg to move,

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for civil registration of a relationship between two people who are cohabiting, and for such registration to afford certain legal rights; and for connected purposes.

Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 23 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and nomination of Select Committees at commencement of public business):-

Those voting Aye in this division were in favour of bringing a bill before parliament that gave additional rights to unmarried, cohabiting couples.

The House divided: Ayes 179, Noes 59.

Adoption and Children Bill (Programme) — Consideration and Third Reading - 29 Oct 2001 - Division No. 45
Policy 'Equal gay rights'Aye
George GallowayAye
Lab2990
Con065
LDem180
Total31972

4.-(1) Proceedings on consideration and Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at Ten o'clock on the day on which those proceedings are commenced or, if that day is a Thursday, at Seven o'clock on that day.

(2) Sessional Order B (programming committees) made by the House on 28th June 2001 shall not apply to proceedings on consideration and Third Reading.-<[i>Mr. Sutcliffe.]

The House divided: Ayes 317, Noes 70.

Adoption and Children Bill — [2nd Allotted Day] — Applications for adoption - 16 May 2002 - Division No. 244
Policy 'Equal gay rights'Aye
George Gallowayabsent
Lab25119
Con4110
LDem282
Total289135

This amendment to the Adoption and Children Bill allowed unmarried couples (both heterosexual and homosexual) to adopt children. Those voting aye were for the amendment.

Amendment proposed: No. 148, in page 28, line 41, leave out "married".-[Mr. Hinchliffe.]

Question put, That the amendment be made:-

The House divided: Ayes 288, Noes 133.

Adoption and Children Bill — [3rd Allotted Day] — Clause 131 — General interpretation, etc. - 20 May 2002 - Division No. 246
Policy 'Equal gay rights'No
George Gallowayabsent
Lab35263
Con1270
LDem432
Total173301

This amendment to the Adoption and Children Bill would have allowed unmarried heterosexual couples to adopt children. (Homosexual couples were specifically excluded.) The no-voters defeated this amendment.

The House divided: Ayes 174, Noes 301.

Adoption and Children Bill — Suitability Of Adopters - 4 Nov 2002 - Division No. 345
Policy 'Equal gay rights'Aye
George GallowayAye
Lab28819
Con8118
LDem440
Total346147

Whilst in the commons for the first time, the Adoption and Children bill was amended to allow unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples to adopt children. However, when the bill went to the Lords, they rejected the amendment and reinstated the original "married couples only" rule. Back in the commons, the aye voters in this division sought to reject the modification in the Lords and allow umarried heterosexual and homosexual couples to adopt.

The House divided: Ayes 344, Noes 145.

Local Government Bill — New Clause 11 — Repeal of Section 2A of Local Government Act 1986 - 10 Mar 2003 - Division No. 108
Policy 'Equal gay rights'No
George Gallowayabsent
Lab3304
Con1227
LDem039
Total129358

The majority of MPs voted against requiring reports on the impact of repealing a ban on the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

The proposed new clause rejected in this vote was titled: Repeal of Section 2A of Local Government Act 1986 and stated:

  • 'The Secretary of State shall lay before Parliament within 24 months of the coming into force of section 119 and at intervals of 24 months thereafter a report containing information on the effect of the operation of that section on—
  • (a) the adherence to guidance issued under section 403(1A) of the Education Act 1996 (c. 96);
  • (b) the operation of the provisions of section 404 of that Act; and
  • (c) the numbers of parents withdrawing their children from sex education pursuant to section 405 of that Act.'.

Clause 119 of the Bill became clause 122 in the Act[1] and stated:

==

Local Government Bill — Maintain Prohibition on Promotion of Homosexuality (Section 28) - 10 Mar 2003 - Division No. 109
Policy 'Equal gay rights'No (strong)
George Gallowayabsent
Lab3301
Con7123
LDem038
Total78370

The majority of MPs voted to repeal a ban on the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

The Majority of MPs voted to keep a clause in the Local Government Bill[1] designed to repeal the section in the Local Government Act 1986 that says:[2]

A local authority shall not

  • intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality;
  • promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.

The insertion of this section into the law had been as a result of the controversial Section 28 which was part of the Local Government Act 1988.[3]

The amendment which was rejected by the majority of MPs taking part in this vote was:

  • Amendment: No. 8, in page 70, line 41, leave out Clause 119.

Clause 119 of the Bill became clause 122 in the Act[4] and stated:

==

Civil Partnership Bill [Lords] - 12 Oct 2004 - Division No. 256
Policy 'Equal gay rights'Aye (strong)
George Gallowayabsent
Independent10
Lab3082
Con6636
LDem420
Total42750

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

The Bill represents a historic step on what has been a long journey to respect and dignity for lesbians and gay men in Britain. It is a natural progression in our vision to build an inclusive society. As such, it builds on reforms that began back in 1967 with Leo Abse's private Member's Bill, backed by the then Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins. The Government's commitment to equality has been strong and unequivocal. We have equalised the age of consent, outlawed discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of sexual orientation, secured protection from homophobic hate crimes and supported the abolition of section 28.

In creating a new legal relationship for same-sex couples, this Bill is a sign of the Government's commitment to social justice and equality. It is also a recognition of the realities of modern Britain. Across this country today thousands of same-sex couples have made the decision to share their lives, their home, their finances and the care of their children or of older relatives. They may have loved and cared for each other for many years, yet their relationship is invisible in the eyes of the law. The Bill sends a clear message about the importance of stable and committed same-sex relationships.

Question put, That the Bill be now read a Second time:-

Those voting Aye in this division voted to move to Bill for recognising same-sex partnerships to the next stage.

The House divided: Ayes 426, Noes 49.

Categories of civil partners other than same sex couples - 9 Nov 2004 - Division No. 314
Policy 'Equal gay rights'No
George Gallowayabsent
Independent10
Lab2300
Con6134
LDem240
Total76383

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

The clause in question is as follows.

'(1) Two siblings, both of whom are aged over thirty years, shall be eligible to register as civil partners provided that they have lived together for a continuous period of twelve years immediately prior to the date of registration.

(2) In this section "sibling" means a brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister.

(3) Chapter 2 of Part 2, Chapter 5 of Part 3 and Chapter 2 of Part 4 shall not apply to civil partnerships formed by virtue of this section.

(4) Section [Termination of civil partnerships other than same sex couples] shall apply to civil partnerships formed by virtue of this section.'.—[Mr. Leigh.]

Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:-

The Civil Partnership Bill sought to give homosexual couples the equivalent rights to those of married couples. This clause sought to additionally give those rights to brothers and sisters who were living together. Those voting Aye in this division were voting for the clause.

The House divided: Ayes 74, Noes 381.

Civil Partnerships Bill [Lords] — Third Reading - 9 Nov 2004 - Division No. 315
Policy 'Equal gay rights'Aye
George Gallowayabsent
Independent10
Lab2972
Con4337
LDem410
Total39149

The majority voted to pass the Civil Partnerships Bill, completing its stages in the Commons.

How the number is calculated

The MP's votes count towards a weighted average where the most important votes get 50 points, less important votes get 10 points, and less important votes for which the MP was absent get 2 points. In important votes the MP gets awarded the full 50 points for voting the same as the policy, no points for voting against the policy, and 25 points for not voting. In less important votes, the MP gets 10 points for voting with the policy, no points for voting against, and 1 (out of 2) if absent.

Questions about this formula can be discussed on the forum.

No of votesPointsOut of
Most important votes (50 points)   
MP voted with policy000
MP voted against policy000
MP absent250100
Less important votes (10 points)   
MP voted with policy22020
MP voted against policy000
Less important absentees (2 points)   
MP absent*6612
Total:76132

*Pressure of other work means MPs or Lords are not always available to vote – it does not always indicate they have abstained. Therefore, being absent on a less important vote makes a disproportionatly small difference.

agreement score
MP's points
total points
 = 
76
132
 = 57.6 %.


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