Tag Archives: UK

Same-sex marriage commenced in England and Wales on March 29th, but it was only beginning yesterday that those already in civil partnerships could opt to convert into marriages. Couples already in civil partnerships may opt for a simple conversion at a register office, or a two-stage process, which includes a ceremony at a venue of their choice. The latter allows …

Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Scotland on December 31st. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 will come into force on 16 December, meaning couples can register to marry then. Following the usual 15 day notice period for marriages, the first same-sex weddings will take place on 31 December 2014. Scottish couples already in Civil Partnerships will be able …

Morrissey yesterday revealed a recent cancer diagnosis. Via BBC News: The ex-Smiths star has recently battled bouts of ill health but revealed the cancer news during an email interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo. “I have had four cancer-scrapings, but so what. If I die, I die,” he wrote. “If I don’t, then I don’t. As I sit here today …

The British Foreign Office is working to free a tourist who was sentenced to four months in prison for “homosexual acts” after being arrested while vacationing in Morocco. Via BBC News: Ray Cole, from Deal, Kent, was detained with his Moroccan partner by police who approached the pair at a bus stop in Marrakesh last month, his family said. His …

Hot on the heels of Scotland’s rejection of independence from the United Kingdom, Sinn Fein is calling for a referendum on reuniting Northern Ireland with Ireland. Via Reuters: Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Scotland’s “inspiring” referendum on independence would accelerate a vote to unite Ireland, a prospect quickly dismissed by Unionists who share power in Northern Ireland. Scotland spurned …

The first new album in 15 years from former Frankie Goes To Hollywood frontman Holly Johnson is streaming in full today at the Guardian. I’m really digging it. Ordering details and tour info is here.

The polls have closed in Scotland and the votes are being tabulated. Since there was no exit polling, all eyes are on the 32 Scottish councils as they report their results. The first reports are expected at around 9PM Eastern time and we should know if the world has a new independent country about five hours later. The Guardian will …

More here. (Tipped by JMG reader Kyle)

Via the BBC: People in Scotland are voting on whether the country should stay in the UK or become an independent nation. Voters will answer “Yes” or “No” to the referendum question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” With 4,285,323 people – 97% of the electorate – registered to vote, it is expected to be the busiest day in Scottish …

Today might be the last day of the United Kingdom as we’ve known it. CNN reports that last minute polls remain in a dead heat. Politicians are making their final pleas to Scottish voters Wednesday, the last day of campaigning before they head to the polls to vote on independence. Opinion polls put the two sides neck-and-neck ahead of Thursday’s …

According to an online poll conducted by Pink News, 54% of LGBT Scots plan on voting for independence from Great Britain. 2,163 Scottish readers took part in the poll conducted on the Pink News website on Friday and Saturday. 54% said that they intended to vote yes, 44% said that they would be voting no while 2% said that they …

“Pro-independence Scots rallied outside the BBC’s Glasgow headquarters on Sunday to protest the public broadcaster’s pro-union ‘bias’ and demand the resignation of political editor Nick Robinson.”

Raw Story recaps: “So Scotland and England have been involved in something of a 300-year-old arranged marriage,” he explained, “And look, I will be the first one to acknowledge, England has been a little bit of a dick since the honeymoon. In 1746, we actually banned the kilt, just because we knew they liked it. And then, we chose ‘God …

Via the Telegraph: Polling experts said the Scottish independence referendum was “too close to call” on Saturday night as a clutch of surveys gave contradictory pictures of the state of the campaign. A survey of 705 Scots by ICM for The Telegraph suggested that the Yes vote had opened up an eight-point lead over the No campaign. Results of the …

The pro-independence Yes Scotland appears to have adopted Dougie McClean’s 1977 classic Caledonia as their theme song. Caledonia has been covered by countless artists and is often described as Scotland’s unofficial national anthem. Kylie Minogue and Lulu performed the song with McLean at last month’s closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“With just one week to go, now’s the time to get out there and make the positive case for a No vote on 18 September – more powers for Scotland guaranteed, without taking on all the risks of separation. It’s the best of both worlds for Scotland.”