The leader of the conservative Faroese centre party Miðflokkurin has caused a diplomatic stir after declining to attend an official dinner with Iceland’s gay prime minister and her partner, because his party is vehemently against gay marriages.

Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir will be accompanied at the dinner by her partner, something that Miðflokkurin Party Leader Jenis av Rana cannot accept.

“My party is formally against marriage between homosexuals. If I took part in the official dinner it would signal that I support a union that is contrary to nature and is condemned by the Bible, and I will not under any circumstances risk that,” said the leader of Miðflokkurin.

“I regret that the Icelandic leader will be accompanied by a woman, and as party leader I cannot accept it,” he added.

Miðflokkurin has three seats in the 33-seat Faroese parliament and is known as being vehemently opposed to gay marriages.

This June, Iceland legalised marriage between homosexuals. Immediately afterwards, Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir formally wed author Jónina Leósdóttir, who has been her partner of many years.