Marriage In The Commons, The Wish Of Gay Europe Minister, Chris Bryant

November 04, 2009

Chris Bryant

The Europe minister wants to become the first gay Member of Parliament to say “I do” in the House of Commons.

Chris Bryant, it has emerged wants to get married in the Speaker’s House, the first gay MP to ever do so.

Chris Bryant, and partner Jared Craney, whom he met while campaigning in Soho, London’s gay area, will now attempt to finalise their plans with speaker John Bercow, in what is felt will be a step in the right direction for gay rights.

Bryant said: 'Jared and I are engaged and we hope to have a civil partnership - or a marriage is what it feels like - in March next year. We'd like to do it in Parliament if possible.'

Getting married in the chapel on the parliament estate is open to members of parliament their peers and family members, but this is not open to civil partnerships.

Bryant and Craney have however opted to go for getting married in the Speaker’s House instead. Permission is however needed with the current resident, speaker Bercow, working hard to have this dream of Bryant’s coming to fruition.

Bercow’s spokesperson said: 'The Speaker is very keen on the idea of holding civil partnership ceremonies at Westminster and he would be very happy for the Speaker's house to be used. There are however a number of legal and practical problems that we are looking into.'

Bryant who worked with Equalities minister Harriet Harman before being appointed to the Europe position, concluded by saying that despite the pomp and circumstance that the venue presents, he was 'just happy to be getting married'

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