SIR – Thank you for your informative article (MPs vote on gay marriage, July 11) regarding how our MPs voted in Parliament to ensure that citizens across the union are treated equally.

Both Robin Walker and Nigel Huddleston have a strange way of showing support for a moral issue.  Abstaining from voting in ‘deference to devolved institutions’ is a poor excuse.  

 The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January 2017. The UK government has singularly failed to restore devolution since and Westminster MPs have happily voted on assorted financial matters on behalf of Northern Irish residents.

The vote on equal marriage was carefully phrased as an instruction for the government to bring forward legislation if the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive do not return before October 21 2019.

 Your article failed to mention that at the same time, the House of Commons also voted on lifting the ban on abortion, which still exists in Northern Ireland.

Both MPs also abstained on this vote. Is this any way to show support for women? Interestingly, Mr Walker didn’t feel he had to explain himself, or mention this, in his MP’s View column in the same paper.

 These votes were a historic step forward in guaranteeing equal rights.  Had I been Worcester’s voice in Parliament this week, I would have taken great pride in voting to ensure that love no longer has borders and women throughout the union are not treated as second class citizens.

Lynn Denham

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Worcester