Salmond rejects call to make early pledge on gay marriage

Challenge: Mr Salmond insisted the consultation process would be properly observed.

Alex Salmond has rejected a call from Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie to guarantee that the Scottish Government will legalise gay marriage.

Mr Rennie challenged the First Minister at First Minister's Questions in the wake of Barack Obama and David Cameron's recent declarations of support for marriage between same-sex couples.

In reply, Mr Salmond said the matter was the subject of an ongoing consultation and insisted it would be dealt with "sensitively and properly".

He said: "Regardless of my views or Willie Rennie's views, he has to understand that this is a matter that excites substantial interest among large sections of the Scottish population."

The First Minister added he had made his personal views known during the election campaign, an apparent reference to a Sunday Herald article in April 2011 where he was quoted as saying he was "in favour of it".

He went on to mock Mr Rennie for describing David Cameron as a "progressive world leader" after the Prime Minister voiced his support for gay marriage during the Conservative Party conference.

Mr Salmond said: "I haven't changed my mind but we're in a consultation process at the present moment.

"We've received, I think, around 60,000, maybe more, responses to that consultation that's taking some time to analyse.

"These responses will be published next month and the process will take course in the proper and usual manner.

"If we are to get, as I hope we do, to a resolution of this issue, which is entirely satisfactory and in keeping, I think, with the Scottish tradition and the tradition of this Parliament, then whatever else we do, and whatever side of the debate we come from, then we have to treat this matter sensitively and properly."

Mr Rennie accused Mr Salmond of being "timid" and quoted gay SNP Euro MP Alyn Smith, who has reportedly said "too many politicians are too equivocal on this".

He said: "Why has the First Minster chosen to be one of the equivocal people - criticised by his own side - rather than joining proudly the progressive world leaders in support of equal marriage?

"Surely if it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for Salmond."

Mr Salmond said: "Can I gently point out that describing David Cameron as a progressive world leader really sums up the difficulty of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland?

"I don't know if Willie actually believes that David Cameron is a progressive world leader, but if he does then it explains the vast overwhelming departure of any semblance of a Liberal Democrat Party."

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