I was delighted to welcome to Parliament couples and campaigners supporting my Private Member’s Bill to create equal civil partnerships. This is a core part of my Bill and will correct an inequality inadvertently created by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. If my Bill is successful then it will mean 3 million cohabiting couples will be given the opportunity, if they wish, to enter into a civil partnership, which will give their relationship legal status. This is important since there is no such thing as a common law spouse in the UK and so a lot of cohabiting couples are hit with a nasty shock if anything should happen to either of them.
The change would also help strengthen family units. The 3 million cohabiting couples care for over 1 million children and there is plenty of evidence that shows couples who are married and in civil partnerships are more likely to stay together than couples who are not. By allowing opposite sex couples to enter into civil partnerships we could help ensure that there are less family breakdowns and so reduce the social and financial costs associated with it.