Openly gay UKIP MEP elected in Scotland
An openly gay UKIP MEP has been elected in Scotland for the first time ever.
David Coburn managed to clinch UKIP’s first seat in Scotland, where the party came sixth in the 2009 European elections.
Coburn, who was previously the party’s London Regional Chairman, will be UKIP’s second openly gay MEP, following Nikki Sinclaire, who broke away from the party to form ‘We Demand a Referendum’.
The Scottish National Party fought a close-run race to deprive UKIP of a seat, with SNP LGBT group chairman Stewart McDonald writing: “If you think UKIP are going to advance equality across the European Union then I’m afraid your hope is sadly misplaced.”
UKIP took 10.46% of the vote in Scotland
He wrote: “We have for so long been persecuted ourselves that it seems like performing an unnecessary victory roll over a defeated enemy to demand that our perfectly satisfactory arrangements should be called ‘marriage’.
“This shows a lack of toleration towards others who look on marriage as a holy sacrament between man and woman.
“I think it does the gay community no good whatever to cross the street and pick a fight with people of faith.”
UKIP have made large gains in the European elections, and are projected to come first across the UK as a whole, with around 30% of the vote.
