I was almost torn in two on Tuesday. Blackburn, or Westminster, that was the question. Jobs, or gay marriage, that was the choice.

Last autumn I invited the Trade Minister, Lord Green, to come to Blackburn to talk to some of the area’s leading industrialists about their concerns for the future, and what the Government might do differently the better to help business. Lord Green accepted without hesitation — but it was not easy finding a date which fitted his diary.

Just as we went firm on Tuesday, the Government announced that the main vote on the Gay Marriage Bill would be taking place that day. I did not want to let Lord Green, and the Blackburn businesses down.

At the same time, and precisely because the gay marriage bill was a matter of conscience not party instruction, I felt it really important that I cast my vote, so that constituents knew where I stood.

Lord Green, a former senior banker (and the best of the breed) impressed the East Lancashire industrialists he met.

I know that he was left with an excellent impression by what he saw and heard; and a check list of ideas to take forward.

As I returned to the Commons’ chamber with just twenty-five minutes to spare before the votes, I could tell immediately that this had been an unusual day, a deadly serious debate where there was no shouting, little heckling, a lot of passion, and a lot of listening.

“Children are at the heart of marriage but they are barely mentioned in the Bill” complained Stephen Timms, a Labour MP who abstained. Some speeches were witty as well. Will straight people say “Darling, our marriage is over [because] Sir Elton John has just got married to David Furnish?”, asked Conservative Nick Herbert MP for Arundel and South Downs.

I voted for the Bill. It received its Second Reading by 400 to 175.

That matters, and so, in its very different way, did Lord Green’s visit to Blackburn.

So I’m very glad that thanks to the trains running to time, I managed to fulfil both engagements.