Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson storms out of interview over DUP gay rights question
'As the Conservative party we are the party of equal marriage, we introduced it to the House of Commons and also we would use our influence to try and advance LGBTI rights in Northern Ireland'
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Your support makes all the difference.Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson walked out in the middle of an interview after she was questioned about Democratic Unionist Party’s stance on LGTB rights.
The Northern Irish party is currently in talks with senior Tories about an agreement which would keep Theresa May's minority government in power.
The DUP's 10 parliamentary seats would give the prime minister a majority of three.
However, the party has gained a reputation for its strong and controversial views on a number of social issues. It opposes same-sex marriage and is anti-abortion - with abortion remaining illegal in Northern Ireland, except in specific medical cases.
Ms Davidson has already sought assurances over LGBT rights from Mrs May about the potential alliance, but when she was asked on Channel 4 News about the deal she walked off camera.
"We have to work with other parties and that means taking on some of their ideas as well," she told reporter, Ciaran Jenkins.
Continuing his line of inquiry he asked: “Just on the DUP. Theresa May yesterday described the DUP as her ‘friends.’ Are you prepared to use that word? Are they your friends?”
Miss Davidson replied: “Well look, I have friends in politics across many parties but what I spoke to the Prime Minister about yesterday was the need for a category assurance that talking with the DUP would not result in any roll back of LGBTI rights in the rest of the UK because as the Conservative party we are the party of equal marriage, we introduced it to the House of Commons and also we would use our influence to try and advance LGBTI rights in Northern Ireland and they are assurances that I got.”
But as he attempted to ask a follow-up question Miss Davidson walked off.
It is unclear why the Conservative leader decided to end the interview.
Miss Davidson helped Theresa may secure 13 seats in Scotland, and George Osborne has described her as the “heroine of the party.”
She is expected to prioritise free trade in the upcoming negotiations, and has said she does not intends the topic of restricting immigration to be a key focus.
The Independent has approached Ms Davidson for comment but none had arrived at the time of publication.
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