Simon Kirby, the MP for Brighton Kemptown, has today contacted Equalities Minister Sajid Javid to press for the faster introduction of legislation that will allow those who currently have a Civil Partnership, to convert to a marriage.
Many LGBT couples wish to take advantage of the new law, to be legally married, but have already become civil partners.
Since the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act was passed in 2013, those who decided to marry were unable to convert their existing Civil Partnership, however, the intention is that this will be implemented in the not-too-distant future.
Simon was strongly involved in the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act (2013)
He said: “I was incredibly proud to have worked on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, and that there is now marriage equality in the UK. However, I do understand the frustration of people wishing to convert their civil partnership to a marriage. There are both technical and legal matters that need to be resolved. One involves the Department for Work and Pensions and the other issue relates to the extensive secondary legislation that is required.
“I understand that this is a complicated matter, in particular as the marriage will be back-dated to the commencement of the Civil Partnership, however I hope that this can be introduced very soon, and I have today called on Sajid Javid to press ahead with this matter.”
On a visit to Brighton last month the Equalities Minister was pressed by James Ledward editor of Gscene for a date when people would be able to convert their Civil Partnerships to Marriage. The Minister indicated the Government hoped to make an announcement towards the end of the year.
In March a Yorkshire couple Michael and Paul Atwal-Brice instructed solicitors to seek from the government a date when their partnerships could be converted to a marriage.
Zoe Round, a family lawyer at Irwin Mitchell solicitors in Sheffield, who the couple instructed, said: “The Government says that there are complications as they wish to ensure that the benefits and rights associated with marriage are backdated for those in civil partnerships. While Paul and Michael are pleased with this development, they want to make sure the Government stays true to its word and does indeed set a date for when they can marry.”