Setting the Law Straight

With cohabiting couples being the second largest family type in the UK, Ministers are backing a recent bill put forward to Parliament which could see straight couples being able to enter civil partnerships for the first time.

The new law, which has been introduced by Tory MP, Tim Loughton, would be a landmark breakthrough in allowing the same legal rights for cohabiting couples as those married couples. The current law is only available to same sex couples.

Justine Greening, the Education Secretary and Minister for Equalities, said "the same rules should apply to all couples, straight or gay".

Tracy Crompton, a family lawyer at Pearson, commented, "More than half of family breakdowns occur with unmarried families. The proposed new law would help to bring stability to those families with unmarried parents".

"Also, the new law would bring the UK in line with other countries such as France, The Netherlands, New Zealand where civil partnerships are legally available".

"Many couples also want to distance themselves from the religious association of marriage and merely want to commit to each other with the same legal rights as married couples".

 

 

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