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Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley said while it should be a matter for the Stormont Assembly, if the matter was to be raised at Westminster it is the Government’s policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience.<\/p>\nNorthern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley said while it should be a matter for the Stormont Assembly, if the matter was to be raised at Westminster it is the Government’s policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is not recognised in law.<\/p>\n
Several attempts in the Stormont Assembly to introduce marriage equality failed.<\/p>\n
The DUP used a petition of concern to veto the bills, arguing that such legislation did not command enough cross-community support.<\/p>\n
Human rights organisations and LGBT equality campaigners have been calling for Westminster to legislate for marriage equality in the region.<\/p>\n
In August 2017 the High Court in Belfast dismissed two cases challenging Northern Ireland’s ban on same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n
Delivering his judgement, a judge said it was for the Stormont Assembly, and not a judge, to decide social policy.<\/p>\n
However, the region has been without a devolved administration for more than 13 months following the collapse of powersharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein.<\/p>\n
The latest round of negotiations to restore the institutions failed last week after the DUP pulled the plug on the talks.<\/p>\n
After the talks process broke down, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith said it was up to London to introduce legislation in such areas as same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n