UK
Scottish Tory leadership candidate Murdo Fraser says he still doesn’t support gay marriage
A Scottish Tory leadership candidate has said he still does not support gay marriage because of his religious beliefs, 10 years after voting against it.
However, Murdo Fraser told Sky News that he is now “quite relaxed” about same-sex adoption, having previously voiced opposition to it.
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Mr Fraser, a Scottish MSP, added that personal religious beliefs “should not be a barrier to standing for office”.
The Scottish parliament overwhelmingly voted to allow gay couples to marry in 2014.
At the time, Mr Fraser was one of 18 MSPs to oppose it, saying it could threaten the charitable status of faith-based groups and providers that do not recognise same-sex marriage.
Mr Fraser also opposed same-sex couples being able to adopt, saying during a debate on the issue in 2006 that “children need male and female role models” and “people who express such views are not homophobes, extremists or, as some suggest, ‘religious nutters'”.
“They have genuine concerns that should not be dismissed with name calling and abuse”, he had said.
Mr Fraser told Sky News he has since changed his opinion and is “quite relaxed” about same-sex adoption.
However, he said he is still opposed to same-sex marriage because of his religious beliefs.
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Asked about criticism from some other MSPs that he is “stuck in the past”, he said: “Most people are understanding that politicians are entitled to have personal religious views and that should not be a barrier to them standing for office.”
Mr Fraser was speaking after his campaign launch to replace Douglas Ross as the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, with Russell Findlay and Meghan Gallacher also in contention for the top job.
According to the Daily Record, which first reported on the story, he was joined on stage by MSP colleague Jamie Greene, who is openly gay.
‘Stuck in the past’
Mr Fraser told the newspaper they disagreed on some issues but could work as part of the same team.
But Green MSP Maggie Chapman said Mr Fraser’s voting record is “truly woeful, even by the standards of the Scottish Tories”.
“He has opposed almost every progressive change our parliament has passed while trying to block almost every step towards equality,” she said.
“The fact that he’s doubled down on this only shows that Scotland may have changed but Murdo Fraser is still stuck in the past.”
This issue has previously been contentious in Scottish politics.
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MSPs Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher. Pics: PA
Last year, Kate Forbes’s leadership campaign to replace Nicola Sturgeon de-railed when the then-Scottish finance secretary admitted she would have voted against gay marriage had she been a politician when it was legalised.
She subsequently told Sky News that her faith, as a member of the Free Church of Scotland, means having children outside of marriage is “wrong” and something she personally would “seek to avoid”.
She also opposed her party’s now-dead gender legislation and failed to fully commit to banning all forms of conversion therapy.
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Although she insisted she was progressive and people could “do what they want in a free society”, the scrutiny of her beliefs led to many of her colleagues dropping support for her and she ultimately came in second behind Humza Yousaf.
When Mr Yousaf resigned a year later she did not enter the race to succeed him, but was made deputy first minister by his replacement John Swinney.