Exclusive: Scottish Labour Party leader says ‘It’s Time’ for equal marriage in Scotland
The leader of the Scottish Labour Party has spoken up for equal marriage as part of the Equality Network’s It’s Time video campaign.
Speaking from the Scottish Parliament, MSP Johann Lamont said: “Equal marriage really matters to me because I believe in equality, and I think it’s right that LGBT people who are in love should be able to marry.
She added: “It’s a really important issue because equality is an important issue. I believe in a fair and equal Scotland, the Labour Party believes in equality, and that’s why I’m supporting equal marriage.”
The Scottish Labour Party is the second largest party in the Scottish Parliament, with 37 MSPs, and its votes could prove decisive as to whether equal marriage becomes legal in Scotland.
27 Scottish Labour MSPs have signed the Equality Network’s Equal Marriage Pledge, but nine have yet to declare their voting intentions and one is opposed.
Labour MSP Elaine Smith recently announced she would vote against equal marriage and support the Scotland For Marriage campaign, who describe same-sex relationships as “harmful, risky and dangerous”.
Breakfast TV star Lorraine Kelly, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, Hollywood actor Alan Cumming, and former Scottish Socialist Party MSP Colin Fox and Scottish Green Party Co-Convenor Patrick Harvie have all recorded videos for the Equality Network’s It’s Time campaign.
The campaign is modelled on PinkNews’ Out4Marriage campaign.
