Civil partnerships could be expanded to included heterosexual couples under government plans revealed last night, after culture secretary Maria Miller conceded a “review” into the future of the unions.
However some MPs fear the amendment tabled at the last minute to the same sex marriage bill is actually designed to kick the issue into the long grass.
On Monday the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which has proved highly controversial with Tory MPs, will return to the House of Commons for two further days of debate.
Miller announced on Thursday evening that following lobbying by MPs over the status of civil partnerships, the government is proposing to “formally review” their future – despite her opposition to their expansion.
“The Equal Marriage Bill is about extending marriage to same-sex couples. Questions have been raised about whether we should also extend civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples,” she said.
“There are strong views on both sides of this debate, and we have listened to those views. We are therefore offering the House the opportunity to have a review of this area, rather than legislating now without the required evidence.”
Peter Tatchell of the Equal Love Campaign cited research showing that 61% of respondents are in favour of civil partnerships for heterosexual couples.