Couple win court backing for straight civil partnerships case

A couple from London have been given the support of the High Court in their bid to get opposite sex couples the right to have civil partnerships.

Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan have launched a legal challenge against the ban on members of the opposite sex entering into civil partnerships - something the Prime Minister previously suggested would undermine the institution of marriage.

This week, a High Court judge granted permission for their legal case to proceed.

Rebecca said: "We think that everybody should be treated equally under the law. As it stands in the UK you can chose whether or not to enter into a marriage or a civil partnership. If you are an opposite sex couple you don't have that choice, and if you want to access the legal rights and responsibilities and protections - you have to get married."

Rebecca and Charles want the benefit that comes with being legally-recognised partners, without the hassle, tradition and ceremony of marriage.

Charles said: "We would never suggest that people shouldn't be able to get married - so why should there be a suggestion that we should be unable to form a civil partnership simply because we are an opposite sex couple, particularly because it is important to be part of an organisation which is modern and reflects who we are as a couple."

Differences between marriage and civil partnerships under the existing law include differences in how they're registered. In a marriage, the names of the fathers of both parties are registered on the marriage certificate. In a civil partnership, both parents' names are recorded for both members of the couple.

Another difference appears in grounds for annulment: marriages can be annulled if one of the parties was suffering from a communicable venereal disease at the time of the ceremony. This is not sufficient grounds for annulment in a civil partnership.

Same sex marriages have been recognised in the eyes of the law for over a year. Same sex couples are also eligible for civil partnerships under the 2004 Civil Partnership Act, but opposite sex couples are not. That could change now a high court judge has given Rebecca and Charles her backing.

But some groups strongly oppose the idea of civil partnerships for heterosexuals. Andrea Williams from Christian Concern said: "Anything other than marriage undermines for everyone what marriage is. As a matter of policy at government level we should be promoting marriage."

If Rebecca and Charles are successful, it could provide a path for others who choose to live together and have children, but see the idea of wedlock as outdated and expensive.

You can watch Luke Hanrahan's report below.