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| Consultation on mixed-sex civil partnerships in Scotland | Consultation on mixed-sex civil partnerships in Scotland |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A consultation is being held on opening up civil partnerships to heterosexual couples in Scotland. | A consultation is being held on opening up civil partnerships to heterosexual couples in Scotland. |
| The Scottish government is seeking public views on the issue following a landmark ruling in June. | The Scottish government is seeking public views on the issue following a landmark ruling in June. |
| The UK Supreme Court said then that the law as it stands in the UK goes against the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) on equality grounds. | The UK Supreme Court said then that the law as it stands in the UK goes against the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) on equality grounds. |
| The secular partnerships became available to same-sex couples in 2005 following a change in legislation. | The secular partnerships became available to same-sex couples in 2005 following a change in legislation. |
| 'Ensuring equality' | 'Ensuring equality' |
| The consultation puts forwards two options - barring further partnerships or opening up civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. | |
| Social Security and Older People Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "This is very simply about ensuring equality. | Social Security and Older People Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "This is very simply about ensuring equality. |
| "The Supreme Court made it clear that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 is not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights because civil partnership is open to same-sex couples only, whereas marriage is open to everyone. | "The Supreme Court made it clear that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 is not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights because civil partnership is open to same-sex couples only, whereas marriage is open to everyone. |
| "That judgment related to England and Wales but the facts and circumstances in Scotland are very similar. | "That judgment related to England and Wales but the facts and circumstances in Scotland are very similar. |
| "Therefore, we must now consult on the future of civil partnership in Scotland and I would urge anyone with an interest in this area to take part." | "Therefore, we must now consult on the future of civil partnership in Scotland and I would urge anyone with an interest in this area to take part." |
| Call to back extension | Call to back extension |
| Equalities campaigners Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan won their Supreme Court challenge in June when justices ruled the Civil Partnership Act's restriction to same sex couples is discriminatory. | |
| Scottish Green equalities spokesman Patrick Harvie called for people to back an extension of civil partnerships. | Scottish Green equalities spokesman Patrick Harvie called for people to back an extension of civil partnerships. |
| He said: "The Supreme Court ruling was very welcome, challenging the lack of choice available to mixed-sex couples. | He said: "The Supreme Court ruling was very welcome, challenging the lack of choice available to mixed-sex couples. |
| "The way to correct this is not to roll back the clock and restrict that choice for everyone, but to allow all couples to choose what's right for them: marriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. | "The way to correct this is not to roll back the clock and restrict that choice for everyone, but to allow all couples to choose what's right for them: marriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. |
| "Anything else would be a return to the bad old days, when the government decided what the best family structure was and simply imposed it on people." | "Anything else would be a return to the bad old days, when the government decided what the best family structure was and simply imposed it on people." |
| 'Freedom to choose' | |
| Gordon MacRae, chief executive of Humanist Society Scotland, welcome the consultation. | |
| He said: "We believe all couples should have the freedom to choose marriage or civil partnership and the current system must now be opened up. | |
| "We know that there is demand from opposite-sex couples who have approached Humanist Society Scotland looking for a civil partnership rather than a marriage and we believe they should be given that choice. | |
| "If civil partnerships are extended, there should also be consideration given to removing gender entirely from the marriage laws - given that marriage and civil partnership will be equally available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples." | |
| The Scottish government consultation closes on 21 December and the government has pledged to then take a decision to ensure future compatibility with the ECHR. | The Scottish government consultation closes on 21 December and the government has pledged to then take a decision to ensure future compatibility with the ECHR. |