The judicial review argues that Section 1 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, which restricts civil partnerships to same-sex couples, is incompatible with Article 14 (read with Article 8) of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that everyone should be treated equally by law, regardless of sex or sexual orientation.
‘A clear case of discrimination’
The case is being brought by Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld, represented by Louise Whitfield of Deighton Pierce Glynn. Ms Whitfield commented: ‘This is a clear case of discrimination, where the government has failed to justify its position on excluding opposite-sex couples from all the rights and legal protections that civil partnerships bring.’
Wide support
The case has over 33,000 supporters on change.org and has seen senior MPs from across the political spectrum calling for an amendment to the current law, including Caroline Lucas, Andy Slaughter and Stephen Twigg. Tim Loughton, former Children’s Minister, has a Ten Minute Rule Bill receiving its second reading on 29 January.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
