Local Government Association - Civil Partnerships Bill
- A briefing that sets out the key issues for local government in respect of the civil partnerships bill.
- http://www.lga.gov.uk/Legislative.asp?lsection=64&ccat=848

BBC: Religion & Ethics: Homosexuality and Marriage
- Extended analysis in a question and answer format.
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/samesexmarriage/

Economist: The case for gay marriage
- "It rests on equality, liberty and even society."
- http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=2459758

Observer: Gay couples win full rights to 'marriage'
- Kamal Ahmed and Gaby Hinsliff. Under the Civil Partnerships Bill to be published on 31 March 2004, same-sex couples will be able to sign a register held by the register office in a procedure similar to a marriage.
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/gayrights/story/0,12592,1179714,00.html

Telegraph | News
- Sarah Womack, political correspondent. Reactions to the statement by Lady Morgan, the minister for women and equality, that she was considering introducing a nationwide register for same-sex partners to extend the pension and inheritance benefits that mar
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/03/nregi03.xml

Telegraph: Bill to give gay couples more rights
- Joshua Rozenberg, legal editor. A Private Members Bill to give homosexuals and cohabitants some of the rights enjoyed by married couples will be launched this week by the Liberal Democrat lawyer, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, QC, in the House of Lords.
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/01/07/nrites07.xml

Telegraph: Pope attacks 'evil' gay marriages
- Government proposals to recognise homosexual "civil partnerships" were denounced by the Pope yesterday as the legitimisation of "evil". Moves to grant legal rights to gay couples will undermine marriage and must be strongly opposed by
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/08/01/npope01.xml

Telegraph: Scottish law on gay marriages is ruled out
- Tom Peterkin, Scotland political correspondent. Scottish ministers yesterday tried to avoid a repeat of the furore over Section 28 when they handed responsibility for legislation that will recognise homosexual marriages to Westminster.
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/11/nscot11.xml

Telegraph: Tory switch over legal rights for gay couples
- George Jones, political editor. The Conservatives are preparing to demonstrate a shift to a more inclusive approach under Michael Howard's leadership by allowing a free vote on legislation giving same-sex couples similar legal rights to married partnershi
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/24/nvote24.xml

Telegraph: Gay couples to get rights as 'civil partners'
- George Jones, political editor. The Civil Partnership Bill will allow gay and lesbian couples who register to have new legal status as "civil partners" and would acquire a package of rights and responsibilities.
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/27/ngay27.xml

Telegraph: Rights for same-sex couples
- Ministers will bring forward a consultation document on civil partnership to present to Parliament before the summer recess.
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/09/nsame09.xml

Guardian: Single-sex partnerships set to win property rights
- Michael White, political editor. The government is poised to endorse the concept of a civil partnership which will provide same-sex couples with property rights and other benefits.
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,973296,00.html

Telegraph: Gays to get same rights as married couples
- Philip Johnston, home affairs editor. Lord Lester said: "I hope that the Government will also provide a framework for legal protection for all unmarried couples in long-term relationships. MPs and civil servants have protection for partners in their
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/12/07/ngay07.xml

Telegraph: A huge step forward
- Nicole Martin. Comments from those most affected: same-sex partners.
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/12/07/ngay207.xml

Times: The unsalacious truth about sex and marriage
- Matthew Parris. The result is a mess: a practical legal contract settling rights and duties on both parties in the way a business partnership may do, all tangled up with connotations of emotional and moral and spiritual pledges, and cultural blessing. Thu
- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,482-505350,00.html

Guardian: New legal rights for gay couples
- Clare Dyer, legal correspondent. Same-sex partners to get property and inheritance entitlements, but new law will not extend to recognition of unmarried heterosexuals.
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,855478,00.html

Guardian: Ever closer union
- Leader. The government took a large stride in the march towards a more equal society yesterday by offering gays and lesbians the chance to have a civil partnership, which confers the same legal rights as a marriage.
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/leaders/story/0,3604,855548,00.html

Guardian: A marriage by any other name
- Adrian Gillan. With equality in sight, it is therefore more important than ever that the gay community does not relax but plays the most active role possible in the consultation and debate over the coming months.
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/gayrights/story/0,12592,855396,00.html

BBC: Head to head: Gay equality
- Ian Burford, actor who signed a London 'partnership register' with Alexander Cannell, and Colin Hart, director of the Christian Institute, give their reactions to ministers' plans for legally-recognised civil partnerships.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2548829.stm

BBC: Equality 'too late' for many couples
- While plans to improve the legal status of gay couples have been welcomed, any changes will be too late for those who have already lost a partner.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2549133.stm

Guardian: Equal rights plan for gay couples
- Barbara Roche will be consulting over the summer on the complex practicalities of introducing partnership registration for gay couples, and it is thought that a short bill setting out the changes could be introduced in the next session of parliament. The
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/gayrights/story/0,12592,855141,00.html

Telegraph: Gays to have the rights of married couples
- Francis Elliott, deputy political editor. A review led by Barbara Roche, the minister responsible for equality issues, has concluded that gay couples should be allowed to register their relationships, conferring on them the same next-of-kin, property, and
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/11/10/ngay10.xml

Gay.com: Gays To have Same Rights As Married Couples
- A spokesperson for Barbara Roche: "The Government is examining the issues of partnership recognition, rights and responsibilities in detail. Civil partnership registration raises a number of complex issues, which have prompted a growing debate within
- http://uk.gay.com/headlines/2324

BBC: Gay couples 'to get equal rights'
- Minister for social exclusion and equalities Barbara Roche has said there is a strong case for allowing same-sex couples to register their relationships. Co-habiting couples do not currently receive the same tax breaks or entitlements that married couples
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2548321.stm