Vicky Trimble, the daughter of Conservative politician David Trimble, has spoken to the BBC about changing her father’s views on same-sex marriage.

It was recently reported that Trimble told the House of Lords he had changed his views on same-sex marriage, stating, “I have found myself taking a particular position with regard to same-sex marriage, which was forced upon me when my elder daughter got married to her girlfriend”.

Vicky shared with the BBC that she had informed her father “accept our relationship or lose a daughter”. She continued that she didn’t tell her parents about her sexuality “until I was in my mid to late 20’s. When I did tell my parents, my dad’s reaction was to put his head in his hands. I think he was a bit taken aback.”

“Since then, it’s been a bit of a non-issue. He has changed his view to support myself and Ros (her wife)… I think he’s taken that journey, when he realised I should have the same rights as the rest of his children. I think that a lot of people with more conservative traditional viewspoints, sometimes it does take that personal connection… everyone’s got their own journey.”

Regarding the current situation for equal marriage in Northern Ireland, MPs in the House of Commons voted in favour of legalising it, alongside abortion access if the devolved government remains stalled by October. On that point, Vicky remarked, “It’s a little bit upsetting, actually, to think that if I go back to Northern Ireland, which is home, our marriage isn’t recognised as valid.”

David Trimble was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 with John Hume for his work on the Good Friday Agreement. He was the First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2002, and the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1995 to 2005.