Youth wings of political parties support Civil Union Bill

The youth wings of five political parties are supporting the Civil Union Bill and urging all their MPs to vote for it.

The legislation has divided MPs but the youth wings say it is a bigger issue than party politics.

Representing Labour, National, Act, the Greens and the Progressive Party, they say polling shows clearly that a majority of people support the bill.

"Among young people support is even stronger," they said.

"We believe most young people are supportive and comfortable with the concept of giving de facto and same-sex couples the right to enter into a civil union."

Most of the parties in Parliament are split over the bill, except for the Greens and United Future.

All the Greens support it, and all United Future's MPs oppose it.

Immense pressure has come on Parliament's 120 MPs from lobbyists on both sides of the issue, with submissions to a select committee overwhelmingly against the Government legislation.

But because it is a moral issue MPs have a conscience vote on it. The bill is expected to come up for its second reading today.

- NZPA