MPs in Northern Ireland have voted to allow same-sex marriage and access to abortion, bringing the region’s laws into line with the rest of the UK on the two social issues.
The changes came via amendments to a separate bill and were approved through a conscience vote, with the changes to marriage law passing by 383 votes to 73 and the extension of abortion rights passing by 332 votes to 99.
The votes will theoretically become law within three months if Northern Ireland remains without a functioning executive government, which has been suspended amidst political deadlock since the beginning of 2017.