City chiefs reject gay marriage call

City leaders have rejected a call to urge the Scottish Government to change the law and allow same-sex marriages in churches.

Labour councillor Angela Blacklock wanted the council to respond to the ongoing consultation and back a law change, while also stating that no religious body should be required to conduct the same-sex marriages.

She had urged councillors to agree to provide a “generally positive response” to the consultation, but her motion only won the backing of the three other Labour councillors and one Green councillor out of 17-strong policy and strategy committee.

City leader Jenny Dawe said: “Where you are unlikely to get unanimity, it has been practice for individual groups to submit their response and I do not see why that should be different.”

Tory group leader Jeremy Balfour said the council should only respond to Scottish Government consultations that “affect the way the council works”.

Cllr Blacklock said: “Other councils have agreed unanimously.”