THE Scottish Government has published a letter that reveals DUP leader Arlene Foster tried to interfere with proposed same-sex marriage legislation in Scotland.
Former SNP minister Marco Biagi claimed Foster wrote to him in 2015 asking that he deny Northern Ireland couples the option to convert their civil partnerships to same-sex marriages in Scotland. Biagi stated on twitter he rejected the request.
He tweeted: “Specifically this was couples with prior Northern Irish civil partnerships, who couldn't switch for marriages in NI (or England and Wales)."
"England and Wales still only convert their own civil partnerships. Scotland converts anyone's."
Foster denied ever sending the letter, stating clearly that “it certainly wasn’t a letter from me.”
The letter, published following a FOI request, shows that Foster wrote to Biagi while in her role as a minister in the Stormont Executive and explicitly criticised the Scottish Government’s position, urging that Northern Ireland couples be excluded from proposed legislation.
Foster claimed that allowing couples to convert their civil partnerships in Scotland would lead to a confusing “dual status” as they would be recognised as married in Scotland, but not in Northern Ireland where same-sex marriage is still illegal.
The DUP have been criticised previously for their record on LGBT rights.
Scotland is currently the only place in the UK that Northern Irish couples in civil partnerships can convert to a legally recognised marriage without first going through divorce.
The letter was published after the DUP came under fire again for their opposition to same-sex marriage. They have been under scrutiny after Theresa May announced she was looking to the DUP to prop up the Conservative Government following a hung parliament.
LGBT organisations across the UK have voiced concerns over the DUP's potential involvement in May's government.
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