Nicola Sturgeon rues descent into ‘toxic’ debate on topics such as equal marriage

Former first minister marks 10th anniversary of legislation in Scotland with call for vigilance over polarisation

The civilised" debate that led to the legalisation of equal marriage in Scotland would not be possible 10 years on amid a global trend towards polarisation and the increasing inability to find common ground, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Sturgeon, who led the Scottish government's drive for equal marriage rights when she was deputy first minister, said she believed the outcome would probably be the same, but the nature of the debate would be much more toxic, divisive and unpleasant than it was 10 years ago".