:00:03. > :00:10.BSkyB, it is to do with stuff that happened under the previous
:00:10. > :00:13.government. Thank you. On tonight's programme, one side
:00:13. > :00:18.lobbies Holyrood, the other lot say they'll be sending 300,000 leaflets
:00:18. > :00:25.ahead of the election on Thursday. Is gay marriage about to dominate
:00:25. > :00:28.the political debate, even if the politicians don't want it to?
:00:28. > :00:33.Island life ahead of the local election on Thursday - we're on
:00:33. > :00:40.Islay to hear about the big issues there. And find out why this
:00:40. > :00:44.programme's been causing a stir on the other side of the Atlantic.
:00:44. > :00:53.an interview with the BBC, the former Liberal leader talked about
:00:53. > :00:56.the end of the -- the inevitability of Quebec separation.
:00:56. > :01:00.Good evening. Tonight we're talking about the union, who it's for and
:01:00. > :01:02.if we need a referendum to decide its future. No, it's nothing to do
:01:02. > :01:05.with Scotland's constitution. We are debating marriage and whether
:01:05. > :01:08.it should be open to same-sex couples. The Catholic Church has
:01:08. > :01:11.led the campaign against changing the law, but a range of faith-based
:01:11. > :01:14.groups have formed a rival campaign to make clear there's more than one
:01:14. > :01:23.religious view on same-sex unions. They lobbied Holyrood today. We'll
:01:23. > :01:27.hear from both sides shortly. Another day, another lobby at
:01:27. > :01:33.Holyrood, over proposals to allow religious same-sex marriages in
:01:33. > :01:39.Scotland. This group, faith in marriage, which includes Christian
:01:39. > :01:43.churches as well as many other religions, handed in an open letter
:01:43. > :01:53.to MSPs demanding the right to conduct same-sex marriages. We have
:01:53. > :01:54.
:01:54. > :01:58.been here before, haven't we? The row over this can be charged, and
:01:58. > :02:04.when you have different sections of society moving at different speeds
:02:04. > :02:09.it can become fraught. We will not stand back and allow politically
:02:09. > :02:14.correct minority to wonder line the important position of marriage in
:02:14. > :02:20.our society and determine morality for the majority. We did not vote
:02:20. > :02:27.for it and we are not having it. This man spent a million pounds of
:02:27. > :02:30.his own money funding the campaign in 2000, and staged a referendum to
:02:30. > :02:36.oppose the repeal of legislation which for they'd local authorities
:02:36. > :02:39.from intentionally promoting homosexuality. Its opponents had
:02:39. > :02:45.considerably less cash to throw about but they did have the support
:02:45. > :02:55.of the main political parties, including the MSP for which he was
:02:55. > :02:59.
:02:59. > :03:09.a political donor. -- the SNP. The public has ended up being caught in
:03:09. > :03:09.
:03:09. > :03:11.a battle between politicians and religion for hearts and minds. The
:03:11. > :03:16.the SNP accepts religious organisations that don't wish to
:03:16. > :03:19.conduct same-sex marriages should not have to, but in recent weeks
:03:19. > :03:25.campaigners led by Cardinal Keith O'Brien have been at the Scottish
:03:25. > :03:31.Parliament arguing the case against any change to the status quo.
:03:31. > :03:39.urge everyone in our country to unite in support of Scotland for
:03:39. > :03:44.marriage. More limbs are also concerned and imams have come out
:03:44. > :03:49.strongly against any change to the status of marriage as anything but
:03:49. > :03:54.a union between man and woman. But today the argument came from those
:03:54. > :04:01.for religious gay marriage. The SNP might be minded for change but it
:04:01. > :04:04.is well aware that sexuality and politics can be a volatile mix.
:04:04. > :04:07.I'm joined by Tom French of the Equality Network, speaking for the
:04:07. > :04:10.campaign group Faith in Marriage which supports the idea of gay
:04:10. > :04:17.marriage. And by John Deighan from the campaign group Scotland for
:04:17. > :04:23.Marriage, which opposes the idea. What do you make of the claim that
:04:23. > :04:27.opposing the idea is actually homophobic or entrances homophobia
:04:28. > :04:33.in our society? It is good to see the argument come out like that now
:04:33. > :04:39.so we understand how this will impact on society. We have found
:04:39. > :04:43.about 85% of people believe you can support the tradition of marriage,
:04:43. > :04:48.and they have found if this goes through they will not tolerate that
:04:48. > :04:55.position. The country needs to wake up to this am change the minds of
:04:55. > :05:01.politicians. What about homophobia? Homophobia - you are accused of
:05:01. > :05:05.being homophobic simply for holding of a value that all societies have
:05:05. > :05:11.got hold it. The instruments of our society operate on have always
:05:12. > :05:15.upheld. Really it is quite worrying where about to go down the path
:05:15. > :05:22.where normal people believe in what people have always believed, they
:05:22. > :05:29.will be charged for with something the Equality Network sees as a
:05:29. > :05:34.counter racism. Defended as a tradition? Marriage has changed
:05:34. > :05:39.over centuries numerous times, one example is that you can no longer
:05:39. > :05:43.beat your wife legally. In terms of defending tradition, it is fine for
:05:44. > :05:48.groups like the Catholic Church to be able to hold marriages in
:05:48. > :05:52.whatever way they see fit, but we are calling for other faith groups
:05:52. > :05:56.that want to conduct same-sex marriages and the state - civil
:05:56. > :06:01.marriages - we feel they should be allowed to conduct same-sex
:06:01. > :06:06.marriages. It is not about requiring them to conduct them, it
:06:06. > :06:10.is about allowing those groups that want to to be able to. You said in
:06:10. > :06:17.your letter today that not to do that was entrenching homophobia,
:06:17. > :06:22.that is what you are saying his position is about. I think opposing
:06:23. > :06:25.same-sex marriage altogether, so what we are saying is that if the
:06:25. > :06:30.Catholic Church do not want to do same-sex marriages themselves they
:06:30. > :06:36.should not have to, but it seems they are going beyond that am
:06:37. > :06:41.wanting to impose their views on other faith groups. If so? If so, I
:06:41. > :06:45.think that is wrong. Other faith groups want to conduct same-sex
:06:45. > :06:52.marriages and should be able to. One not let them do that and you
:06:52. > :06:56.carry on doing your thing? Tom is confusing two things. There is an
:06:56. > :06:59.understanding of marriage which is for the public good, for bringing
:06:59. > :07:05.together men and women for the sake of children and we have to operate
:07:05. > :07:11.in a society where we can do that the best we can. You presumably
:07:11. > :07:15.don't accept that that is what marriage is about? He no, I think
:07:15. > :07:21.marriage is about two people come together who love each other and
:07:21. > :07:24.one to celebrate their partnership. We have seen seven countries in
:07:24. > :07:33.Europe have already legalise same- sex marriage. What is wrong with
:07:33. > :07:37.his position? Every one knows that love is a good thing but the love
:07:37. > :07:42.between a husband and wife is something different. Any biology
:07:42. > :07:48.lesson can teach us that. To say two men can form the same
:07:48. > :07:54.relationship as a man and woman is illogical, contrary to reason. It
:07:54. > :07:57.flies in the face of common sense and people are starting to wake up
:07:57. > :08:01.to this now. When they see the case we had in England last week when a
:08:01. > :08:07.Catholic school were teaching their marriage is between a man and a
:08:07. > :08:10.woman, and the amount of campaigning from groups has now led
:08:10. > :08:14.to a government inquiry. This is what it will do for religious
:08:14. > :08:18.freedom, this is what it will do for the 85% of people who believe
:08:18. > :08:25.traditional marriage can be upheld at the same time as recognising the
:08:25. > :08:30.rights of others, which we have recognised. Civil partnership gives
:08:31. > :08:35.them the same rights as spouses. Are you now in favour of civil
:08:35. > :08:39.partnerships? By am not in favour. It has led us to the position we
:08:39. > :08:44.are now because we said it was preparing the way for same-sex
:08:44. > :08:48.marriage. At the time we were told, don't be silly, no one could
:08:48. > :08:54.redefine marriage. They are was a time when people on your side of
:08:54. > :09:02.the argument said all you needed to be equal was civil partnership, the
:09:02. > :09:06.same rights. When did the argument changed? The Equality Network said
:09:06. > :09:11.we will support this as a step forward, but in our submissions to
:09:11. > :09:15.the government at the time we said this is not equality. We believe in
:09:15. > :09:20.the same rights and rules for everyone. Equality under the law is
:09:20. > :09:27.a principle that is key to Scotland and that is what we are calling for.
:09:27. > :09:31.We are calling for equal rights and equal treatment. Are you trying to
:09:31. > :09:37.make this a political issue ahead of the elections? No, council
:09:37. > :09:42.elections are about improving local communities, not dividing them as
:09:42. > :09:50.John wishes to. This is about standing up for the values of
:09:50. > :09:55.equality and tolerance in Scotland. Whatever you, John? This is about
:09:56. > :10:00.the imposition by a minority and an understanding of marriage that the
:10:00. > :10:05.world has never seen before being imposed on local authorities.
:10:05. > :10:11.you trying to make this an election issue? You want people to vote on
:10:11. > :10:21.this issue? Yes, we want them to check with councillors what they
:10:21. > :10:27.will do in schools, will we have children taught this way? How do
:10:27. > :10:32.you feel about that? I think John and the Catholic Church is one
:10:32. > :10:36.example to have every right to not conduct same-sex marriages. The
:10:36. > :10:41.proposals and our campaign is not calling for that. There is a wider
:10:41. > :10:47.agenda going on. What is the election agenda? I think it is
:10:47. > :10:51.unfortunate because it is dividing communities. Why? You divide it
:10:51. > :11:01.today. Telling people they should not vote for candidates who support
:11:01. > :11:02.
:11:02. > :11:12.same-sex marriages. With asking for... We are running short of time.
:11:12. > :11:14.
:11:14. > :11:18.We are asking for candidates who will support freedoms. This is a
:11:18. > :11:20.taste of what will come in the imposition of a minority view in
:11:20. > :11:26.the rest of society. You are saying it should be settled in a
:11:26. > :11:32.referendum. One that suit you? don't think it is necessary. Do you
:11:32. > :11:42.think you would lose? Four out of five parties had this in their
:11:42. > :11:47.
:11:47. > :11:53.manifestos, so we elect them at They do a good job. Taxpayers'
:11:53. > :11:58.money goes to fund your campaign. They have pushed politicians and
:11:58. > :12:05.without thinking, it is live and let live, but they realise the
:12:05. > :12:11.impact this has on the rest of society. How much have you spent?
:12:11. > :12:18.How much? �50,000. You spend millions of pounds of taxpayers'
:12:18. > :12:20.money. Millions. John and Tom, thank you both very much. Ahead of
:12:20. > :12:26.this week's local election, Iain Hamilton has been dispatched to the
:12:26. > :12:31.four corners of the country to find out what folk are talking about. In
:12:31. > :12:34.his forth and final report he's headed west to Islay. The global
:12:34. > :12:36.whisky boom is helped bring much needed tourism to the local economy.
:12:36. > :12:41.But as with many rural areas, the challenges of affordable housing,
:12:41. > :12:51.transport costs and low wages are major factors in people's lives.
:12:51. > :13:07.
:13:08. > :13:17.Not that this has affected their spirit, as Iain reports. The Isle
:13:18. > :13:23.
:13:23. > :13:28.of Islay. Remote. Tranquil. And beautiful. So, why have I found
:13:28. > :13:33.myself in the middle of this...? For families who come from here and
:13:33. > :13:39.those who move here, they are clear about why they make this their home.
:13:39. > :13:44.Everybody knows your children. You can speak to everybody and the main
:13:44. > :13:49.thing is committed to spread. There is no were like this island. I know
:13:49. > :13:56.that my children are safe, I can let their children play in the
:13:56. > :14:04.cordon and not on tour. -- in the garden. In the mainland, you cannot
:14:04. > :14:11.take your eyes off them for one minute. It isn't all rosy. We are
:14:12. > :14:17.living in a two-bedroom flat with three children, sharing a room. The
:14:17. > :14:26.smallest bits to be moved into a single bed and we are crammed into
:14:26. > :14:32.a single bedroom. There isn't much room. We will sit tight and wait,
:14:32. > :14:35.basically. When Paul Patterson's relationship broke up, he had to
:14:35. > :14:40.move back with his parents and younger brother because he could
:14:40. > :14:47.find nowhere else to live. How difficult is it to buy summer?
:14:47. > :14:53.wages you would not cover the mortgage for the prices now. The
:14:53. > :14:59.only decent place to get a job is a Distillery job and that is dead
:14:59. > :15:03.man's shoes. There has been a huge thing about this million-pound
:15:03. > :15:13.investment with the hotel and eight new houses. That only scratches the
:15:13. > :15:18.surface. He is quite nice. Cheeky with good attitude. These sheep are
:15:19. > :15:27.looked after by Tony. On his parents tenant farm. I am not going
:15:27. > :15:30.to eat this. I don't think you will be eating less. Tony has a degree
:15:30. > :15:34.in agriculture so he is fully committed to the lifestyle but
:15:34. > :15:39.along with many others in his generation, they have found it
:15:39. > :15:42.almost impossible to get their own tenancy. And there is no guarantee
:15:42. > :15:50.that Tony will be allowed to take over his parents tenancy when they
:15:50. > :15:55.eventually retire. I only have 10 sheep, it's a hobby. But he wants
:15:55. > :16:01.it to be a profession. Young potential farmers believe they can
:16:01. > :16:08.get started -- cannot get started because so much land is absent in
:16:08. > :16:13.two private estates when tenancies end. We will have less people in
:16:13. > :16:16.all of these houses, the houses around, five empty houses on the
:16:16. > :16:23.neighbouring farms around this small farm and these houses are
:16:23. > :16:31.empty. The school up the road, that was under threat of closure due to
:16:31. > :16:37.the lack of pupils. The local shop is closed. This whole valley is
:16:37. > :16:42.going to be one farm and a couple of holiday homes and then the
:16:42. > :16:47.ground might well be farmed by men from other parts. If we can get
:16:47. > :16:51.more people here residing on the land and owning the land, they can
:16:51. > :16:56.decide if they want to give the land to young people to build
:16:56. > :17:03.houses and we also have to add affordable housing. And not be
:17:03. > :17:07.selling plots for �80,000. We need to be selling plots for �10,000.
:17:07. > :17:17.Get the houses back into the equation and get families back. Get
:17:17. > :17:24.
:17:24. > :17:28.the lights back on. What has been interesting about my trip is how
:17:28. > :17:31.much what impact on families is outside the control of the council.
:17:31. > :17:41.Like the availability of land to build affordable housing and the
:17:41. > :17:41.
:17:41. > :17:45.high cost of ferries, fuel and food. Fuel is expensive. But I love you
:17:45. > :17:49.because it's the most beautiful place in the world. I have two
:17:49. > :17:53.small children and I would not bring them up anywhere else. As I
:17:53. > :17:58.have travelled around Scotland, from Dundee, Murray, Lanarkshire
:17:58. > :18:01.and here in the Isle of Islay, one thing is clear. People's passion
:18:01. > :18:11.for their community and their willingness to stay and make things
:18:11. > :18:13.
:18:13. > :18:18.better. Renton has worked hard so it's time to give him some fun...
:18:19. > :18:21.Iain Hamilton. Last Monday we brought you a report from Canada on
:18:21. > :18:29.lessons from the most recent independence referendum in Quebec
:18:29. > :18:31.in 1995. And judging by the reaction to our programme, it's
:18:31. > :18:34.still a very sensitive issue. Our coverage included an interview with
:18:34. > :18:40.the former Canadian Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff. It has, to put
:18:40. > :18:43.it mildly, caused something a stir. Tonight he may no longer be a
:18:43. > :18:53.politician but Michael Ignatieff knows how to what Parliament held
:18:53. > :18:55.into a frenzy. An interview he gave to the BBC Scotland... For formal -
:18:55. > :18:59.- former Liberal leader talked about the inevitability of the
:18:59. > :19:06.separation after back. It focused on the Scottish independence
:19:06. > :19:10.referendum. The effect of it, we are almost two separate countries.
:19:10. > :19:15.A asked whether separation is inevitable, he said more powers to
:19:15. > :19:21.kickback might have been like a good idea at... But it is a way
:19:21. > :19:26.station, you stop for a while but the logic is independence. For four
:19:26. > :19:32.quid back? That is eventually when it goes. He suggests that his words
:19:32. > :19:37.are being taken out of context. Parties are trying to downplay
:19:37. > :19:42.these remarks but the damage is done. Relief from the good judgment
:19:42. > :19:47.of the Canadian public that they did not make him Prime Minister and
:19:47. > :19:51.also, where his Paul Brady... is a glorious future for Canada and
:19:51. > :20:01.Quebec lying in that great Federation of Canada and Michael in
:20:01. > :20:01.
:20:01. > :20:06.that it does not think so either. Tomorrow's tapirs... The Herald...
:20:06. > :20:12.Household debt fears as mortgage rates rise. Homeowners could be
:20:12. > :20:16.plunged into a spiral of debt as banks hike mortgage repayments.
:20:16. > :20:19.That the picture of the Blue Knights, the man at the centre of
:20:19. > :20:24.that, Paul Murray, and how they submit the new bid to take over