Commenting on BBC reports that the Scottish Government may not deliver Equal Marriage legislation if there are no changes to the UK Equality Act, Willie Rennie, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said:
"I want an assurance that the Scottish Government's demands on the Equality Act are not them putting up a straw man to appease opponents of equal marriage. I share the view that no-one should be forced to conduct same-sex marriages.
"But if changes to the Equality Act are shown to be unnecessary I hope the Scottish Government will accept that fact, and move quickly to deliver equal marriage. Politics must not get in the way of equality for people in Scotland.
"Making swift progress to deliver fairness and equality in marriage will have my unswerving support.
"This is about removing barriers to marriage, not imposing any rules on religious organisations. If a church, or any other religion, wants to conduct a same sex marriage they should not be prevented from doing so by the state - yet they are for now."