Ruth Davidson demands Theresa May presses DUP on LGBT rights
3 min read
Ruth Davidson has sought a "categoric assurance" from Theresa May that she will press the DUP on its equalities record as part of the Tories' deal with the party.
The Scottish Tory leader held talks with the Prime Minister in the wake of last night's shock general election result, which saw with Conservatives lose their Commons majority.
Mrs May has been forced to reach an agreement with the DUP's 10 MPs in order to get its Queen's Speech and Budget through Parliament.
But Ms Davidson - who enjoyed a stunning success when the Tories increased their number of MPs from one to 13 in Scotland - said she demanded that Mrs May confronted her new partners over their attitude towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community.
The DUP is opposed to same sex marriage as well as abortion.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, Ms Davidson - who is gay - said: "I told her there there was a number of things that count to me more than party. One of them is country, one of the others is LGBTI rights and I asked for a categoric assurance that if any deal was done with the DUP there would be absolutely no rescinding of LGBTI rights in the rest of the UK and that we would try to use any influence that we had to advance LGBTI rights in Northern Ireland.
"I was there last summer, I made a very big intervention on why Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where you cannot have same sex marriage and it's an issue that is very close to my heart and one that I wanted categoric assurance from the Prime Minister on, and I received."
Earlier, Ms Davidson had hinted at her unease about the Tory/DUP pact in a tweet.
The Prime Minister said she wanted to work with "our friends and allies" in the DUP to provide a stable government.
"Our two parties have enjoyed a strong relationship over many years and this gives me the confidence to believe that we will be able to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom," she said.
“This will allow us to come together as a country and channel our energies towards a successful Brexit deal that works for everyone in this country, securing a new partnership with the EU which guarantees our long-term prosperity.
“That’s what people voted for last June; that’s what we deliver. Now, let’s get to work.”
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