Both Cameron and Miliband deserve huge credit for their leadership on Equal Marriage

Speaking to Pink News this evening, Ed Miliband said:

“I am proud that the House of Lords has now passed a bill that will allow everyone to marry the person they love.

The last Labour government was responsible for landmark changes in the law such as repealing Section 28, equalising the age of consent and introducing civil partnerships. I am proud that equal marriage, a hugely important step forward in the fight for equality in Britain, is one which was achieved with the support of the whole of Labour’s shadow cabinet and the vast majority of Labour MPs and peers.”

Miliband is right to be proud of the Bill passing, not just because it’s great news for LGBT couples who will now be able to marry , but because it’s great news for the country as a whole that we are no longer stymied by the kind of bigotry that litters our recent past. To go from Section 28 to Equal Marriage in just a couple of decades is a remarkable achievement and a significant moment in British history.

David Cameron deserves real credit for pushing this through. I honestly believe that this is something he cares about – despite his questionable previous voting record on gay rights issues, he has stuck his neck out and got the right result, despite tough opposition from his backbenches and inside his cabinet. But this result could not have been delivered without Labour votes in the Commons and the Lords. As Waheed Alli, who has fought tirelessly and effectively for this result told me last month:

“He has been – along with Yvette – just extraordinary in seeing this through. And he’s done something which I think is really really really admirable in a politician. He has not sought to take credit for it. He has kept his mouth shut. He has done the work, but he’s not getting up there and saying “me me me me me”. And I find that fascinating. I’ve worked with lots of leaders and you know when they’re committed to stuff and this was not even – he was just so natural.”

It would be wrong for Miliband to take personal credit for Equal Marriage. But it would be unfair if he didn’t get some share of that credit. Both he and Cameron have shown great leadership and have got a historic result that their efforts deserved,

The fight for equality is not over yet – not by a long shot. But it take a great step forwards this afternoon.

Today is a good day.