LGBT global news 24-7

Home » Content about Government of the United Kingdom

Content about Government of the United Kingdom

May 23, 2013
Scotland urged to speed up gay marriage legislation

Scots gay rights campaigners and politicians tell Scottish government to act now so that Scotland does not fall behind England and Wales in legalizing marriage equality

Scottish LGBT rights campaigners and leading politicians have called upon Scotland’s government to publish a timetable for the introduction of a marriage equality bill.

The move comes after the UK House of Commons have voted for marriage equality; with a final vote in the House of Lords expected soon, commentators say Edinburgh is falling behind England and Wales.

Speaking with Gay Star News, Colin McFarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland commented: 'The Commons overwhelmingly voted to extend the legal form of marriage to same-sex couples in England and Wales.

May 22, 2013
Woman who tried to drive into MP's gay marriage debate still in custody

The motives of a woman who drove through the main gates of the House of Commons as MPs voted in favor of same-sex marriage are still unclear

Despite strict security measures, a woman managed to come within yards of British MPs as they voted on the same-sex marriage bill.

At 7.15pm last night (21 May), a woman in her 40s, dressed in a hajib, drove her red Volkswagen a few meters on to the parliamentary estate at the Carriage Gates before being halted by a security ramp.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Following a brief conversation between officers and the woman, she locked herself inside the car and refused to leave.

February 27, 2013
Deputy First Minister told she will lose seat over gay marriage support

Having said gay marriage is 'right thing to do', Nicola Sturgeon is told supporting it may be 'a vote loser'

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish Government should legalize gay marriage, but is now being told she would 'lose more than she would gain'.

Adil Bhatti, former SNP national council member, said: 'The gay community don't have that many votes compared to those that you would lose from the religious groups like the Muslims and the Catholics.

February 7, 2013
What has to happen now for England and Wales to get gay marriage?

British MPs have voted for gay marriage. But the next stages of the Bill may prove to be a bumpy road through the comitttee stages and the House of Lords

When the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill stormed through the House of Commons on Tuesday (5 February), England and Wales moved a giant step closer to recognizing equal marriage.

The House of Commons vote passed with a majority of 225, with Prime Minister David Cameron and other major party leaders Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg voting in favor.

But despite the support from Members of Parliament (MPs) the bill still has some way to go before it becomes law.

It is now set to be scrutinised line-by-line in the committee stage by a cross-party group of MPs.

February 5, 2013
Senior Tories plead with backbench MPs to vote for gay marriage

George Osborne, Theresa May and William Hague has written a letter asking Conservative MPs to back marriage equality in the vote

Senior Conservatives are appealing to backbench members of parliament vote for marriage equality in England and Wales today (5 February).

In a joint letter to address the split in government, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Secretary Theresa May have attempted to persuade other Conservatives to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage.

December 25, 2012
Gay former council leader dies after attack in Glasgow

A man has been charged with assaulting Liberal Democrat John Morrison while he was walking home after a Christmas night out

The gay former leader of a local council in Scotland has died after being assaulted in Glasgow city center in the early hours of Saturday (22 December).

John Morrison, 50, was attacked while on his way home to Milngavie, where he lived with his partner, after a Christmas night out.

A man has appeared in court charged with assaulting him.

The former Liberal Democrat leader of East Dunbartonshire Council from 2003 to 2007 was found on Argyle Street at 12.40am.

He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for treatment but died there.

October 10, 2012
Boris Johnson on gay marriage: 'what's the fuss?'

The Mayor of London has said he doesn't 'see what the fuss is about' when it comes to same-sex marriage on last day of Conservative Party conference

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has said he doesn't 'see what the fuss is about' when it comes to same-sex marriage.

His comments come on the closing day of the Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham.

The conference has seen some in the party question Prime Minister David Cameron's support for same-sex marriage, led by former minister Anne Widdecombe and ex-Archbishop George Carey who made headlines by saying some gay marriage supporters were like Nazis.

September 12, 2012
Is the UK’s new equality minister a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Activist Bisi Alimi questions whether Maria Miller’s voting record on equalities should have ruled her out for her new job

If the selection of ministers to a particular position is based on their track records and qualifications, then Maria Miller is surely in the wrong job.

A reshuffle of the British cabinet saw Member of Parliament (MP) Miller given a new role as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

But this government department has also been given the job of overseeing equality, making her the UK’s senior Minister for Women and Equality. (She’s assisted in this role by her junior, Helen Grant MP.)

September 8, 2012
New UK Culture Secretary asks gay groups not to judge her on record

Despite voting against, or being absent for, every major LGBT rights bill, Maria Miller wants gay groups not to worry about her appointment

The UK’s newly appointed Culture Secretary is urging gay groups to talk to her before they judge her on her poor voting record on LGBT rights.

Maria Miller was responding to a social networking meme which showed how the new Minister for Women and Equality had voted in the past.