Bradley has been serving as the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since 8 January, 2018.
The new Northern Ireland Secretary has been called “absolutely insulting” following a comparison she made “imposing” gay marriage in the region to “imposing” broadband.
Karen Bradley enraged listeners on Tuesday when she said she wouldn’t introduce gay marriage “in the same way” that she would not dictate how high speed broadband is rolled out.
Upon being asked if the DUP’s position on Equal Marriage frustrates her, The Secretary of State said: “Look, I voted for Equal Marriage to apply in England and Wales. I didn’t vote for it to apply in Scotland for example, that was a matter for the Scottish government.
“It will be a matter for the elected politicians in Northern Ireland to make a decision about Equal Marriage. That’s for them to decide, it’s not for me to impose, in the same way it’s not for me to impose the way that super-fast broadband is rolled out across the country.
“In my own county of Staffordshire, it’s rolled out by the county council. In Northern Ireland it needs to be rolled out by the Executive. That’s why we need an Executive in place.”
Bradley also told listeners that she voted for gay marriage in England and Wales.
The comparison has been criticised by Amnesty International and Northern Ireland-based LGBT charity, The Rainbow Project.
John O’Doherty, director at The Rainbow Project, said: “I find today’s comments by the Secretary of State absolutely insulting to same-sex couples across Northern Ireland currently denied equal treatment under the law.
“The denial of rights to UK and Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland should not be minimised and it is particularly galling to hear these comments from an MP who purports to support same-sex marriage and equality for LGBT people.”
Prior to being elected Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 8 January, Bradley was Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from July 2016 to January 2018.
She was elected Conservative MP for Staffordshire Moorlands in May 2010.
To listen to Bradley’s interview in full, click here.
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