EQUALITY campaigners have called for swift legislation to allow Scots the right to same-sex marriages, after a new study showed the number who support the move has soared.

The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey has revealed that in 2010 almost two-thirds of people (61%) supported same-sex marriage, up from 41% in 2002.

The report comes after a split emerged in the SNP over the issue of same-sex marriages. SNP MEP Alyn Smith criticised colleagues only days after John Mason, a nationalist colleague tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament, backed by three other nationalist MSPs, stating that no one should be forced to approve of same-sex marriage.

The survey also asked whether “gay or lesbian couples should have the right to marry one another if they want to”. Just 19% disagreed, while 18% neither agreed nor disagreed.

Tim Hopkins of the Equality Network called for ministers to legislate swiftly. “These results show that a Scottish Government bill on equal marriage would have broad popular support. The Scottish Government should ensure their consultation on marriage equality starts quickly, and should be prepared to move to legislation as the next step.”

The report says the biggest and most rapid change in discriminatory attitudes in the last decade has been in views of gay men and lesbians.

In 2000, 48% felt sexual relationships between two adults of the same sex were always or mostly wrong. By 2010 this figure was just over a quarter (27%).

The report reads: “For the most part, the survey found relatively little change since 2006 in the extent to which people express discriminatory attitudes.

There were, however, two main exceptions to this, a further decline in discriminatory attitudes towards gay men and lesbians and a small increase in the proportion who felt that people from ethnic minority groups and people from Eastern Europe take jobs away from other people in Scotland.”

Mr Smith earlier this month said Mr Mason’s motion “lacks any idea of respect at all”, adding: “What is in the small, mean, angry heads of bigots is a matter for them. I never asked for their approval, but I demand equality.”

Alex Salmond is said to have appeared to indicate support for same-sex marriages before the May election, when the SNP manifesto committed it to a consultation.

At present only mixed-sex couples can marry in Scotland, while same-sex couples can have a civil partnership.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said yesterday: “The survey shows Scots have strong liberal values in many areas. Strong, liberal communities value everybody’s contribution. We need to keep taking steps in that direction.”

The survey also discovered discrimination towards ethnic minorities and immigrants has increased in the last 12 months.

The proportion of people with the view that people from ethnic minority groups “take jobs away from Scots” climbed from 27% in 2006 to 31% last year. The proportion of people with the same perception of those from Eastern Europe increased slightly from 32% to 37%. Discrimination against gypsies, travellers and transgender people was also highlighted. The survey shows 55% would be unhappy if someone who cross-dresses in public formed a relationship with a close family member, while 37% said the same of a gypsy or traveller.

In 2010 around one in four people (28%) said they believed there was sometimes good reason to be prejudiced against particular groups. However, the majority of people (66%) think Scotland should do everything it can to get rid of prejudice.

The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey questioned 1500 people on their attitudes to gender, age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation and transgender.