Same-sex poll ‘a waste of money’

Holding a referendum on same-sex marriage would be unfair and a “colossal” waste of taxpayers’ money, according to equality campaigners.

The warning comes after Cardinal Keith O’Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, said a vote should be held on proposals to legalise gay marriage because of “intense public interest” in the issue.

The Equality Network charity said the Scottish Government should reject the call because such a move would “go against the core principles of Scotland’s representative democracy”.

Tom French, policy co-
ordinator for the network, said: “If there was a nationwide referendum, conducted fairly, we are sure that Scots would vote for equality for same-sex couples. But that is not the way Scottish democracy works.

“A referendum would be un-Scottish, unfair and a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money.”