British Secretary of State Karen Bradley says same sex marriage for North could be passed at Westminster
BRITISH Secretary of State Karen Bradley has said same-sex marriage in the North of Ireland could be introduced at Westminster.
Ms Bradley said while it should be a matter for Stormont, if the matter was to be raised at Westminster it is the Government’s policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience.
She was responding to a written question from Labour MP Conor McGinn, who asked if she would bring forward legislative proposals on equal marriage for same-sex couples in the region.
Ms Bradley said: “In accordance with the Belfast Agreement, this is a devolved matter which should be addressed in the NI Assembly; but the power of the Westminster Parliament to legislate remains unaffected.
“If this issue were to be raised in Westminster, the Government’s policy is to allow a free vote on matters of conscience such as equal marriage.”
The North of Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is not recognised in law.
Several attempts in the Stormont Assembly to introduce marriage equality failed after the DUP used a petition of concern to veto the bills.
Human rights organisations and LGBT equality campaigners have been calling for Westminster to legislate for marriage equality in the region.
In August 2017 the High Court in Belfast dismissed two cases challenging the North of Ireland’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Delivering his judgement, a judge said it was for the Stormont Assembly, and not a judge, to decide social policy.
However, the region has been without a devolved administration for more than 13 months following the collapse of power-sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin.
Last week negotiations aimed at trying to restore the power sharing Executive at Stormont failed after the DUP pulled the plug on the talks.
Following the collapse, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith said it was up to London to introduce legislation in such areas as same-sex marriage.
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