Islington Green Party welcomes the decision of the European Court of Human Rights which upheld the ruling of the UK Supreme Court that Lillian Ladele, a former Islington Town Hall registrar who refused to officiate at same-sex civil partnership ceremonies, was rightfully deemed not to have been discriminated against by Islington Council.
Ozoda Muminova said “It is unacceptable for anyone, especially those in public service, to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation. The Green Party now urges the government to legalise same-sex civil marriages, opposite-sex civil partnerships and religious same-sex marriages by clergy who wish to conduct them.”
The Green Party has the longest support for equal marriage of any of the political parties. Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said: “We think it’s absolutely right that same sex and opposite sex couples can either get married or indeed enter into civil partnership arrangements. It’s a matter of basic human rights. The Government must now bring in legislation to enshrine equal rights and equal marriage into law.”