Holyrood urged to lead way on gay marriage

CALLS have been made for Scotland to lead the way on same-sex marriages, after it became the highest-profile omission from the Queen’s Speech.

CALLS have been made for Scotland to lead the way on same-sex marriages, after it became the highest-profile omission from the Queen’s Speech.

The measure has been pushed for by the Lib Dems, but is vehemently opposed by many Tories, who see it as an attack on religious freedoms.

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However, according to the government, it was not included because the idea is still being consulted on and there is a chance it could emerge in the next Queen’s Speech.

This led to calls by equality campaigners for Scotland to lead the way on the issue.

Tom French, policy co-ordinator for the Equality Network, said: “The Scottish Government now has the perfect opportunity to prove that Scotland is capable of being the progressive beacon that our political leaders want it to be, by leading the way on equal marriage rights.”

Another major omission is a proposed bill which would have forced the government to spend at least 0.7 per cent on foreign aid. It was reduced to a pledge, despite the Prime Minister previously boasting that the UK would be the first country to put it on the statue books.

In his speech seconding the loyal address to the Queen, Lib Dem Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce, who chairs the Commons select committee on international aid and development, said he was “disappointed” by the omission, but added: “I recognise it does not need to be put into law.”

There were other surprise omissions which could prove embarrassing for the government, including a failure to put forward a bill to register lobbyists in the Commons.

In 2010, David Cameron said lobbying was “the next big scandal” in British politics.

And it has been promised since the coalition parties came together in May 2010, but has been subject to several delays, amid criticism that it “has been put into the long grass”.

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Yesterday, Labour leader Ed Miliband pointed out that the Tories have been hit by three scandals – the Adam Werrity affair, the former Treasurer offering meals at Downing Street for donations, and links with senior News Corp figures.

Mr Miliband said: “What have we got? Three lobbying scandals and no bill.”

Also missing from the Queen’s Speech was powers for constituents to recall MPs who have broken the law or responsible for serious misconduct.

The measure has been proposed by Mr Cameron since the 2009 expenses scandal.