CROYDON'S three MPs all voted in favour of gay marriage, as anticipated, in Tuesday night's Commons vote.
Tories Gavin Barwell and Richard Ottaway and new Labour MP Steve Reed all supported legislation which would allow same-sex couples to marry in religious, as well as civil, ceremonies.
Croydon Central MP Mr Barwell made an empassioned plea in support of the bill in the Commons, prior to the vote.
He said: "I am by nature a small 'c' conservative. I do not like change. There is a part of me that would like to take the world back to 1990 when my father was healthy, when I did not have the pressures of a demanding job and England were in the semi-finals of the World Cup. There is another part of me, however, that recognises the failure of that approach.
"For conservatism to work, we have to accept that the world changes. If we do not, we become an anachronism."
Mr Ottaway last month spoke publicly of his intention to support the bill, while new Croydon North MP Steve Reed also voted in favour of the law change.
Mr Reed, who is openly gay, told the Commons: "If you don't like gay marriage, don't marry a gay person. But don't stop gay people getting married."
MPs voted in favour of the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill by 400 to 175, a majority of 225. But 136 Tory MPs opposed the bill, despite it having the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron.
Last month, the Advertiser reported how the Conservatives' stance on the issue has sparked an exodus among local party members, with a "significant number" of grassroots activists resigning in protest at Mr Barwell and Mr Ottaway's support.
The legislation will now be put through the House of Lords but, if passed, will enable same-sex couples, who are currently able to engage in civil partnerships, to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies.
Tories Gavin Barwell and Richard Ottaway and new Labour MP Steve Reed all supported legislation which would allow same-sex couples to marry in religious, as well as civil, ceremonies.
Croydon Central MP Mr Barwell made an empassioned plea in support of the bill in the Commons, prior to the vote.
He said: "I am by nature a small 'c' conservative. I do not like change. There is a part of me that would like to take the world back to 1990 when my father was healthy, when I did not have the pressures of a demanding job and England were in the semi-finals of the World Cup. There is another part of me, however, that recognises the failure of that approach.
"For conservatism to work, we have to accept that the world changes. If we do not, we become an anachronism."
Mr Ottaway last month spoke publicly of his intention to support the bill, while new Croydon North MP Steve Reed also voted in favour of the law change.
Mr Reed, who is openly gay, told the Commons: "If you don't like gay marriage, don't marry a gay person. But don't stop gay people getting married."
MPs voted in favour of the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill by 400 to 175, a majority of 225. But 136 Tory MPs opposed the bill, despite it having the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron.
Last month, the Advertiser reported how the Conservatives' stance on the issue has sparked an exodus among local party members, with a "significant number" of grassroots activists resigning in protest at Mr Barwell and Mr Ottaway's support.
The legislation will now be put through the House of Lords but, if passed, will enable same-sex couples, who are currently able to engage in civil partnerships, to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies.
