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Content about Politics of Scotland

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.

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.

January 23, 2013
Scotland politician resigns over gay marriage

Scottish National Party official quits over the party's leadership support of gay marriage

Andrew Walker has left the Scottish National Party (SNP) stating the one of the reasons was Alex Salmond’s, Scotland’s First Minister and party leader, support of gay marriage.

Walker who resigned also resigned from his post as secretary of the SNP branch in the Western Isles, said that the party's and Salmond’s support of marriage equality ignores Scotland’s ‘majority views’.

October 14, 2012
Former SNP leader calls gay marriage ‘step towards fascism’

Gordon Wilson, who led the Scottish Nationalists in the 1980s, has attacked government plans for marriage equality

A former Scottish National Party leader has attacked plans to introduce gay marriage, calling the legislation ‘a step towards fascism’.

Gordon Wilson, who led the party from 1979 to 1990, told BBC Scotland the consultation showed the public were not in favor of marriage equality.

He added political correctness was now occupying a position ‘to which it has no right’ and when the state moves into legislating on same-sex marriage it becomes ‘a step towards fascism’.

July 25, 2012
Scotland confirms it will legalize gay marriage

Scotland will be first part of UK to legalize same-sex marriage. UPDATE: Full reactions from LGBT campaigners, faith leaders and politicians

Scotland has confirmed it will legalize gay marriage, becoming the first part of the UK to do so.

A bill on the issue will be brought forward in the country's parliament this September.

Today’s decision (25 July) comes after cabinet members of the Scottish National Party (SNP) government met earlier this month to discuss the measures.

Despite widespread support for a change in the law, there has been fierce opposition from some religious leaders and clerics.

July 16, 2012
Catholic cardinal demands Scots gay marriage referendum

Cardinal Keith O'Brien demands the Scottish government holds a referendum on same-sex marriage 

Britain’s most senior Catholic demanded a referendum on same-sex marriage in a last-minute intervention on the eve of a final decision by the Scottish government.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s intercession comes ahead of the Scottish National Party (SNP) cabinet meeting tomorrow (17 July) to decide whether to introduce a same-sex marriage bill to the Scottish Parliament.

June 27, 2012
Scottish government sets date for gay marriage

Announcement on marriage equality set for 10 July: MSPs and campaigners urge 'no more delays'

The Scottish government has revealed that it will announce its decision on same-sex marriage on 10 July.

A discussion will take place at the cabinet meeting that day and a decision will be taken on whether or not the Scottish National Party (SNP) administration will propose a change in the law to give same-sex couples equal marriage rights.

May 12, 2012
Scottish leader refuses to make early pledge on gay marriage

Alex Salmond mocks the idea of UK Prime Minister David Cameron being a 'progressive world leader'

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond has rejected a call to make an early pledge that Scotland will legalise gay marriage.

Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie asked Scottish National Party leader Salmond during First Minister’s Questions whether he would confirm the country would bring in marriage equality.

In reply, Salmond said the matter had to be dealt with ‘sensitively and properly’. He added a consultation was still continuing.

February 6, 2012
‘Legalise gay marriage’ youths tell Scottish parliament

All major political party youth groups unite in favour of gay and lesbian marriage in Scotland

The youth and student wings of Scotland’s political parties have today united to demand the Scottish Parliament legalise same-sex marriage.

The leaders of SNP Students, Scottish Labour Students, Scottish Young Labour, Conservative Future Scotland, Liberal Youth Scotland, and the Scottish Young Greens have written a joint letter to every Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) calling on them to pledge their support for the Equal Marriage campaign.