A poll published Tuesday (10 July) and conducted by ComRes on behalf of the religious anti-gay campaign group Scotland for Marriage, appears to suggest most Scots oppose same-sex marriage.

The poll states that 55% of Scots agreed with the statement: ‘Marriage should continue to be defined as a life-long exclusive commitment between a man and a woman’ and that 50% of Scots want a referendum on the question of same-sex marriage.

‘When an honest poll is taken, most people in Scotland say they want to keep marriage as it is,' said a Scotland for Marriage spokesman. ‘And half of Scots say gay marriage should be decided by the people in a referendum, only a minority want to leave it to the politicians at Holyrood.’

Meanwhile, Scotland for Marriage lodged a complained with the polling industry watchdog against last week’s poll for Stonewall Scotland by YouGov which showed two-thirds (65%) support for marriage equality.

Speaking with Gay Star News, Colin Macfarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland said: ’Stonewall Scotland’s poll was conducted and approved by YouGov, one of the most reputable and well known polling organizations in the world. We worked closely with YouGov at every stage of the process to ensure that our data was unbiased and gave an accurate representation of public attitudes towards same-sex marriage.'

‘This slur by the Scotland for Marriage campaign smacks of desperation by an organization which knows that the public opinion is against them,' Macfarlane added. 'We know that the majority of Scots support equality.'

Scotland's Equality Network, which is campaigning for marriage equality, stated that the Scotland for Marriage poll is completely out of line with every other major opinion poll on this issue which have consistently shown two-thirds of Scots support same-sex marriage. A mid-June poll by Ipsos MORI have instead showed 64% supported equal marriage with 26 percent opposed.

Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said on closer inspection, it seems that the anti-gay poll is ‘flawed and biased’ rather than honest.

The poll ‘does not actually ask people’s opinions on same-sex marriage,' he said.  ‘No one disputes that marriage between a man and a woman should continue to be available.’

Experts also pointed out that in the anti-gay poll 77% agreed with the statement: ‘Stable relationships between same-sex couples should be legally recognized through civil partnerships.'

If the poll had asked a question instead about same-sex marriage, respondents could have showed two third of Scots support it, constituent will all major recent polls.

‘This is confusing and misleading’, said French.

Responding to the calls by Scotland for Marriage for a referendum on the issue, the Equality Network stated that whilst they are confident they would win any referendum, such a move would go against the core principles of Scotland’s representative democracy.

‘Our MSPs were elected on clear manifesto commitments to consider the evidence, and decide, and we have confidence in them to do that. A referendum would be un-Scottish, unfair and a colossal waste of taxpayer’s money,’ said French.

The public consultation on same-sex marriage closed in December with over 50,000 responses. The Scottish Government is due to publish the results and announce its decision this month.

In June, the Equality Network announced that a majority of MSPs had signed its Equal Marriage Pledge, committing themselves to voting in favor of same-sex marriage. Of the 83 MSPs that have declared their position, an overwhelming majority of 74 MSPs have said they will vote in favor, including the leaders of all the opposition parties. Just 9 MSPs remain opposed.

Scotland for Marriage is made up of CARE for Scotland, The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, The Christian Institute, Destiny Churches, Scotland, The Evangelical Alliance and The Family Education Trust.