LEAVING aside the societal and religious arguments for and against same-sex marriage, I was surprised that Alyn Smith, an SNP MEP, feels that MSPs have the power to legislate on a major issue of human rights without popular consent (Letters, June 14).
No Scottish Parliament can be sovereign as sovereignty resides with the Scottish people.
Most people are unaware that natural marriage and the family are protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where men and women have the right to marry and found a family. Article 16 (3) goes further and states that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state. Again Article 12 of the European Convention of Human Rights again declares that men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and found a family. So if Holyrood wishes to legislate to breach the status and human rights of those who are already married and their families, it will need the consent of the Scottish people expressed in a referendum.
Gordon Wilson,
48 Monifieth Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.
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