Sir Brian Souter, who famously supported keeping a section 28 clause installed in the Scottish legal system, has reportedly topped up the Yes Campaign with £1 Million.
In 2000 when the Scottish Government were planning to repeal the Section 28 laws, which forbade the promotion of homosexuality to minors, by education staff, and local authorities, Souter became the leader of the Keep The Clause campaign. In Scotland, the clause was known as Clause 2A. A spokesperson at the time said that the transport tycoon was not undertaking the campaign for ‘personal glory’ but was fighting the ‘battle because he is a father and committed Christian’
At the time gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell stated that ‘Brian Souter’s support for Section 28 is the moral equivalent of the business-funded campaign to maintain racial segregation in the Deep South of the USA in the 1950s.’
HeraldScotland.com is reporting that Souter has now donated £1m to the SNP, as a ‘gift’ for Yes vote’.
A spokesperson for the SNP said, ‘It’s a fantastic sign of confidence that Brian and others the length and breadth of Scotland are stepping up to the plate to do what they can so that we have the resources to take on the Westminster establishment and win the Yes vote.’
In Feb 2013, Souter talked about the issue of same-sex marriage on Question Time. In 2011 he was nominated as Bigot Of Year by Stonewall.
The people of Scotland will vote on whether they stay part of the UK or leave on 18th September 2014.
