THE UK could lose its European human rights compliance if Jersey does not adopt equal ages of consent for straight and gay couples, the Chief Minister has warned.

Senator Frank Walker said today that if the States were to insist on maintaining unequal ages of consent – 18 for homosexual couples and 16 for heterosexuals – they would put the UK in serious difficulty with EU partners and undo the improvements in Jersey’s relationship with Westminister.

The States were debating a proposal from Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard to lower the age of consent for gay teenagers to 16, because the current law puts the Island in breach of commitments to the European Court of Human Rights.

However, just before midday the States voted by 41 to ten to abandon the debate and refer the proposition to scrutiny.

When the States come back in a fortnight they will hear from the chairmen of scrutiny panels on whether they feel a delay and review would provide any help, or whether they feel the debate should resume.