Gay partners to get legal rights

The first same sex register was opened in London in 2001

Homosexual couples in England and Wales are to get the same legal rights as husbands and wives.

The government is publishing proposals to introduce a "civil partnership " which would allow gay couples to register their relationship and be recognised in law.

Ministers say it isn't a "gay marriage" but a move to give homosexual partners the right to be regarded as next of kin.

Under current legislation, same sex couples have no next of kin rights irrespective of how long they've been together.

At 0710

on Breakfast we spoke to Trevor Bentham who was with his partner, the actor Sir Nigel Hawthorne, for 22 years until Nigel's death two years ago.

Trevor said that if the proposal were made law it would offer not just financial protection, but give same sex relationships dignity.

It would've dignified something which we felt perfectly happy with ... in the eyes of the law

Trevor Bentham

Luckily, Trevor and Sir Nigel were well advised - Trevor described their accountants as "Guardian Angels". They were able to avoid inheritance tax

But for most same sex couples - unlike for heterosexual couples - when one partner dies, the other has to pay the full inheritance tax.

At 0810

we spoke to Ben Summerskill who is the chief executive of Stonewall, the group that campaigns for gay right's - and Reverend George Curry from the Christian Institute.

Ben Summerskill said that it was about being fair.

This isn't gay marriage, it's simply fairness and equal treatment

Ben Summerskill, Stonewall

But Reverend Curry argued that the inequalities in tax and pension laws should be adjusted in other ways.

The new rights will very quickly be seen as the equivalent of heterosexual marriage".

Reverend Curry, the Christian Institute

And we want to know what you think.