Most Scots do not want marriage to be redefined, according to a new survey.
An Opinion Research Business poll of over 1,000 Scottish adults found that 53 per cent agreed that homosexual couples should not be allowed to redefine marriage for everyone else. It revealed 36 per cent disagreed.
The Scottish Government is still analysing responses to its consultation on same-sex marriage, which closed in December.
Overwhelming
Scotland for Marriage, a campaign group against the redefinition of marriage, welcomed the findings.
A spokesman said: “These results demonstrate clearly that Scotland supports marriage with an overwhelming majority believing that wherever possible every child should be raised by a mother and a father.
“There is clearly no support whatsoever for a society which creates in law a situation which deliberately deprives a child of a mother or a father.”
Objections
He added: “I hope that the Scottish Government will consider these findings very carefully and accept that objections to their proposals are not primarily religious but exist widely across society among people of all faiths and none.
“There simply is not majority support for this very contentious and divisive issue.
“This is not a religious matter and assurances given to religious bodies will do nothing to comfort the majority, most of whom are not religious, who do not support same sex marriage.”
Independence
The ORB poll also showed that 85 per cent of Scots believe it is possible to be tolerant of the rights of others and protective of traditional marriage at the same time.
Other questions revealed that 71 per cent do not believe “defending traditional marriage is discriminating against gays and lesbians”, while 69 per cent endorsed the view that “although death or divorce may prevent it the ideal situation for a child is to be raised by a married mother and a father”.
Earlier this week it was announced that Scots are less likely to back independence if the Scottish Government redefines marriage.
Newspaper adverts criticising the Scottish Government’s proposals to redefine marriage were placed in the press this week by Scotland for Marriage.