February 2, 2017

Mayor Sadiq Khan pledges fight for mixed-sex civil partnerships

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has pledged to make representations to the government about the need to extend civil partnerships to mixed-sex couples.

Khan says that should Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld lose their appeal for the right to a civil partnership at the High Court he will take the fight forwards by speaking to the government.

This pledge was made in a letter sent to Green Party Member of the London Assembly Caroline Russell. Last November Russell proposed a motion, along with Liberal Democrat Caroline Pidgeon, calling on the London Assembly to back the aims of the campaign for equal civil partnerships. The motion was passed unanimously.

In his letter, the Mayor says:

“I recognise that there are many reasons why some people might not want to enter into a traditional marriage and agree that everyone should have the right to express their relationship in a loving union that works for them. I will express my support for the introduction of Equal Civil Partnerships to the government, should the Court of Appeal reject [the] couple’s application to form a civil partnership. All couples, regardless of sexual orientation, should be equal before the law.”

The Equal Civil Partnerships will be writing to Mr Khan to thank him for his support and to request a meeting to discuss how together the campaign can be taken forwards.