A HETEROSEXUAL Ealing couple’s fight to have their civil partnership recognised in the UK has been backed by Green Party London assembly member Caroline Russell.
Martin Loat and Claire Beale, who have been together since 1992, entered into a civil partnership on the Isle of Man last month – despite the mainland-UK government only recognising civil partnerships between same-sex couples.
On Wednesday, November 2 the London Assembly voted to back a Green-sponsored motion to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.
“For true equality the law should properly reflect the values modern couples hold, and their desire to have these principles reflected in the legal recognition of their relationships,” said Ms Russell.
“London is a forward-facing city and we should not hesitate to push for this next step to provide a legal alternative to marriage.”
Last week government minister Lord Freud told the House of Lords that the government remained firm in its refusal to extend civil partnership rights to heterosexual couples.
He said that a recent government review on the future of civil partnerships found little public demand to extend them to heterosexual people.
Mr Loat said: "We will continue the fight to get the UK government to change the law so that civil partnerships are available to all couples in the UK – mixed sex and same sex.”
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