Secret trip to Afghanistan stopped Claire Perry voting in gay marriage debate – as a supporter

Tory MP Claire Perry has revealed her reason for not voting in the gay marriage debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday because her “urgent government business” was a trip to Afghanistan.

 “I was due to go to Afghanistan with the Secretary of State as per my twitter comments this morning,” she told Marlborough News Online today (Friday).  I’ve just returned.”

She revealed that she is in fact a supporter of same sex marriage, adding: “I intend to support the legislation at the third reading subject to scrutiny of the amendments.”

 And as a committed Christian she pointed to the fact that the new Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Rev Nick Holtam, is a supporter too.

Mrs Perry, MP for Devizes, who lives near Salisbury, explained that she didn’t vote in Tuesday’s controversial debate in the House of Commons because “urgent government business required me to miss the vote.”

She was listed as one of the Tory MPs who did not vote on the legislation, which resulted in more of her Conservative colleagues voting against the gay sex marriage Bill than for it. The vote in favour secured an overwhelming majority.

Marlborough News Online asked her to explain her position but she did not respond, and did not post a statement on the issue on her own constituency website.

Then, in a local newspaper column, she explained: “It comes down to fairness and I think it is fair to allow as many people as possible to marry regardless of race, colour or sexual orientation.”

“Marriage is the bedrock of our society and anything that strengthens it is to be supported and this move will strengthen, not weaken, marriage.”

“I reach this view as a practising Christian and it is one shared by our Bishop, the Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam.”

Mrs Perry, married with three children, adds: “I support this legislation, although the irony of the matter is that urgent Government business required me to miss the vote on the second reading to the Bill on Tuesday.”

“I have appreciated the communications from my constituents on this issue – both sides of the argument have been represented without rancour and helped me to reach my decision.”