Gay partnerships move welcomed

12.00.00am GMT Fri 6th Dec 2002

Lord Tope, Liberal Democrat leader on the London Assembly, today gave a warm welcome to the Government's announcement that gay men and lesbians are to be offered the same rights as married couples under plans to create legally-recognised civil partnerships.

"This is an overdue step towards a more civilised legal arrangement for people in stable gay relationships," he said. "Civil partnership law is well established on the continent of Europe, in Canada, and in some states of the USA."

"Liberal Democrats are the only party to back civil partnerships through their party conference, and it was my colleague Lord Lester, a Liberal Democrat peer, who introduced the Bill in the House of Lords."

"It is quite wrong that a partner who has been in a relationship for perhaps 20 years does not have the right to be consulted when their loved one goes into hospital, or even the right to register their death. Some gay people have been forced to sell their homes because of inheritance tax; no widow faces this worry."

"Lord Tope, who has himself campaigned on gay issues in the House of Lords, and is the Mayor of London's Cabinet member on human rights and equalities, commented: "The Mayor of London's civil partnership register, though it lacks legal force, has been very popular and highlighted the need for legislation.

"The BBC gave the impression that there would be a big fight over this in the House of Lords, but in fact Lord Lester's Bill was well received. What we do have to watch is that the Government really does grant gay people equality over taxation and pensions."

"The Lester Bill offered civil partnership rights to 'straight' couples as well because Liberal Democrats believe in equality. The Government seems to have ditched this important element."