February 2018 - Equal Civil Partnerships

February 19, 2018

Show of Support for Equal Civil Partnerships at Westminster

Some of the 3.3 million unmarried, opposite sex couples who stand to benefit should Tim Loughton MP’s Civil Partnerships, Marriages & Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill become law met in the Palace of Westminster on Monday 29^th January to show their support for the campaign, ahead of its second reading on Friday 2nd February.

The couples joined Tim Loughton MP, Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld (whose court case to enable them to enjoy a civil partnership is due back at the Supreme Court in May) to hear about the progress of the Bill and to share their own stories. Other key supporters of the campaign group present included journalist and education campaigner Fiona Millar and Human Rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell.

Coming from all walks of life and with a range of ages, the supporting couples provided a cross-section of the concerns and problems facing unmarried cohabiting couples, from a young partnership buying a first home to retirees with inheritance tax and pensions on their mind.

February 6, 2018

Progress of the Bill which could allow mixed sex civil partnerships

The Campaign for Equal Civil Partnerships has welcomed the progress on February 2nd of Tim Loughton’s Civil Partnerships, Marriages & Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill.

If carried, the Bill will oblige the Government to draw up a report to consider how best to end the current inequality whereby same-sex couples can choose between marriage and civil partnership, while opposite-sex couples only have access to the former.

The Bill was granted its second reading unanimously, which means that its objectives are supported ‘in principle’, and it will now be subjected to detailed scrutiny. The Campaign, however, has expressed concern that the Home Office Minister replying to the debate, Victoria Atkins MP explicitly kept open the option of addressing the current inequality by abolishing civil partnerships altogether, thus limiting the choice for same-sex couples and leaving those who have previously had civil partnerships in an uncertain legal limbo.

The Minister argued that the Government needs to assess the level of demand for same-sex civil partnerships following the introduction in 2014 of same-sex marriage. Mr Loughton, however, pointed out that in the past year the number of same-sex couples opting for a civil partnership rather than a marriage had actually increased.

Mr Loughton congratulated the Campaign for Equal Civil Partnerships and pointed out that 80,000 people have signed a petition calling for civil partnerships for all.* All but one of the MPs contributing to the debate also supported the extension of civil partnerships, arguing it would be fair, popular and would promote stable families.

Commenting, Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld, who are challenging the Government in the Supreme Court later this year over the current inequality, say:

“We are overwhelmed by the level of support for our campaign to provide access to legal and financial protection to the 3.3 million unmarried cohabiting couples in the UK who stand to benefit.”

“We call on the Government to rule out now the option of the abolition of same-sex civil partnerships now and to use the latter stages of the bill to legislate to extend civil partnerships to all.”

“Until the Government does, we will continue to fight for equality and civil partnerships for all in Parliament and through the courts.”

The Campaign welcomed a statement by Human Rights Campaigner, Peter Tatchell, that:

“Any attempt by the Government to abolish civil partnerships in the name of equality will be greeted with dismay by the LGBT community and provoke an almighty backlash. It will do catastrophic damage to relations between the Conservative party and LGBT people.”

The Bill will now be debated by Parliament over the next few months, although the Government has so far only committed to producing its report by Autumn 2019.

*In four days, since the second reading of the Bill, a further 30,000 supporters have signed the petition bringing the total to around 110,000.

February 1, 2018

Campaign responds to reports of Government u-turn on civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples

The Campaign for Equal Civil Partnerships says: The current situation that allows some couples to choose between marriage and civil partnership while others can’t is manifestly unfair, unpopular and makes families less secure.

We are pleased that the Government, Opposition, Lib Dem and Green parties have all signalled that they will support Tim Loughton MP’s Civil Partnerships, Marriages & Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill tomorrow (Friday 2^nd February) at second reading.

We welcome the commitment in the bill “to bring about equality between same-sex couples and other couples in terms of their future ability or otherwise to form civil partnerships.”

We note with concern, however, that equality can be achieved in one of two ways: by extending civil partnerships to all or abolishing civil partnerships for same-sex couples. With the number of same-sex civil partnerships increasing by 3.4% in the past year, many in the LGBT community would quite rightly be outraged by the latter option.

Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld, who are challenging the Government in the Supreme Court, later this year, over the current inequality, say: “We have been overwhelmed by the level of support for our campaign to provide access to legal and financial protection to the 3.3 million unmarried cohabiting couples in the UK who stand to benefit.”

“We call on the Government to rule out now the option of the abolition of same-sex civil partnerships and to use Tim Loughton’s bill to legislate as matter of urgency to extend civil partnerships to all.”