Alex Salmond backs same-sex marriage but defends delay in cabinet decision

THE First Minister yesterday said that he personally backs same-sex marriage after his Cabinet came under fire for delaying its decision on whether it should be legalised in Scotland.

The day after gay rights campaigners expressed deep disappointment that the Scottish Government had postponed making its official position known, the First Minister confirmed that he favoured introducing a same-sex marriage bill.

It had been expected that the government would officially back a new law after the Cabinet met on Tuesday. However, ministers declined to make the government’s position clear and set up a Cabinet sub-committee to explore legal issues arising from the proposal.

The sub-committee will report back to Mr Salmond at the end of this month.

Last night, it was reported that correspondence between civil servants at Holyrood and Westminster suggested the Scottish Government may not introduce the bill until the UK Equalities Act is amended.

In the past Mr Salmond and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon have indicated that they would support a gay marriage bill that gave religious organisations the freedom to opt out of holding ceremonies.

At a press conference in Bute House, Mr Salmond was asked whether he thought introducing a same-sex marriage bill was a positive move. “I have said a number of times that I haven’t changed my mind,” was his answer, before adding: “But the job and duty of a Cabinet, particularly on a matter that is a matter of conscience in which we intend to have a free vote amongst all the SNP MSPs, is you consider the propositions and the arguments that are put to you fully.”

At Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, ministers rejected the Catholic Church’s call for a Scotland wide referendum on the issue.