Murdo Fraser says he still does not support same-sex marriage

Murdo Fraser has said he still does not support same-sex marriage after voting against it at Holyrood ten years ago. 

The Tory MSP who is running to lead his party said that he is a Christian and he takes “a particular view” on marriage. 

Fraser is running against Meghan Gallacher and Russell Findlay. He promised that if he were selected as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, he would unite the divided party. 

However, his record and voting history on LGBT rights are now under the spotlight. 

Speaking to the Daily Record at his campaign launch in Perth, Fraser said: “I’m a Christian. I take a particular view on what marriage should be. That’s how I voted, and I haven't changed my mind on that.” 

He was one of 18 MSPs who voted against the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill in 2014. He and Liz Smith are the only two remaining Tory MSPs who voted against it.  

Eight years before the historic vote, Fraser also voted against same-sex couples being able to adopt. 

During that debate, he said: “Many believe that children need male and female role models and they are concerned that adoption by same-sex couples excludes such a possibility and is simply not in children's best interests. 

“People who express such views are not homophobes, extremists or – as some suggest – religious nutters. They have genuine concerns that should not be dismissed with name calling and abuse.”