Caroline Russell has expressed disappointment on behalf of Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan who lost their Court of Appeal battle for equal civil partnerships today.
Caroline received unanimous support from the London Assembly when she raised a motion asking them to offer ‘unequivocal’ support for civil partnerships between different sex couples. [1]
The Mayor responded to the motion saying he was ‘passionate about achieving equality for everyone and that means giving mixed sex couples the right to a civil partnership’. [2]
Caroline said:
“I am extremely disappointed on behalf of Rebecca and Charles, who wanted access to a legal recognition to their relationship that already exists.
“The ruling goes against true equality, the law should properly reflect the values modern couples hold, and their desire to have these principles reflected in the legal recognition of their relationships.
“I am married as civil partnerships were simply not available at the time. I would have loved to have had a civil partnership free from the trapping of traditional marriage.
“I will continue to push the Mayor to fulfil his promise to lobby the Government to change the law on equal civil partnerships.”
Notes to editors
[1] Full text of Caroline’s motion
https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/allow-civil-partnerships-for-different-sex-couples
[2] Mayor’s written letter in response to Caroline’s motion on equal civil partnership https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/motions_plenary_2_november_reply_from_mayor.pdf