Mundell calls for change on gay rights

as the Northern Ireland Assembly power sharing negotiations reconvene after the general election Scottish Secretary David Mundell has called on the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to “change its position” on LGBTI issues.

Prime Minister Theresa May will meet DUP leader Arlene Foster today to finalise a deal on propping up her minority government.

Mr Mundell, the first openly-gay Conservative cabinet secretary, said he does “not subscribe” to the Northern Irish party’s position.

It comes after Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said she had received “categoric assurances” that the UK government would use its influence to call for a change to LGBTI rights in Northern Ireland.

The province is the only part of the British Isles where same-sex marriage remains outlawed.

The DUP has repeatedly used a controversial Stormont voting mechanism – the petition of concern – to prevent the legalisation of same-sex marriage despite a majority of MLAS supporting the move at the last vote.

Mr Mundell told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “I don’t subscribe to the DUP’S position on these issues but the DUP will not be influencing these decisions within the rest of the United Kingdom.

“We’re not in any way signing up to the DUP manifes- to. Most of these issues are devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.”

He added: “I would like to see the DUP change its position, and indeed Northern Ireland as a whole change its position, on LGBTI issues.

“Ruth Davidson has been very clear on that, she actually went out to Northern Ireland and set that out, so they can’t be in any doubt where they stand on these issues.

“I think change is brought about, certainly in Northern Ireland, by persuasion, by people working together and the best way actually to achieve these is to get the Northern Ireland Assembly back up and running, and I hope that will also be possible.”