Update laws to mirror rest of UK without vote

I WAS surprised to read a report last week suggesting that the Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, Owen Smith, favours putting both same-sex marriage and abortion law reform in Northern Ireland to a referendum if devolved government cannot be restored.

It would have been much more helpful if the Labour Party had asked campaigners on the ground what they would like to see happen.

Existing opinion polls already show consistent, overwhelming majority support for change on both issues. We do not need a referendum to tell us what we already know.

The rest of the UK did not need to have a referendum for either issue, so why does the Labour Party insist on treating us differently?

Human rights-compliant legislation is not a matter for public opinion. There is a legal onus on the UK Government to ensure that all regions of the UK are human rights-compliant and, up until now, they have failed to do so in Northern Ireland.

There is no constitutional requirement for a referendum under UK law — unlike Irish law, where it is a requirement for constitutional change — so it is nonsensical to put human rights up for public debate. It is a waste of time and money.

If Northern Ireland goes into direct rule, there is no reason why Westminster cannot legislate to bring Northern Ireland’s laws into line with the rest of the UK.

CLARE BAILEY (GREEN PARTY) MLA for South Belfast be used by God to overcome evil and bring light into darkness, so that the steps of all God’s children be guided into the path of peace.

REV DR JEFFREY MYERS Frankfurt am Main, Germany