Gay couple on hunger strike

Gay marriages are not on Westminster's agenda

A gay couple have gone on hunger strike in an attempt to persuade the government to recognise same-sex marriages.

Richard Barnes and Joe Marshall say they will continue to refuse food until their partnership is given the same legal status as heterosexual marriages.

Gay married couples have been legally recognised in Holland and Germany during the last year.

However, the UK Government has said there is no prospect of a potential change in the law being debated during the current parliament.

Not acceptable

Mr Barnes, who "married" Mr Marshall in March, said they were also demanding the same rights as heterosexual couples, to jointly claim work and pension benefits.

Speaking from their home in Rochester, Kent, he said:"We've taken this step because the government doesn't accept same sex partnerships as being acceptable to be considered for anything.

We're not going to start eating again until the government legally recognises marriages between two men or two women

Richard Barnes

"The fact is we needed to do this to nudge the government into seeing that we are people who should be considered in the same way as heterosexual married couples.

"It's not just about us, this is a stand for everyone in the same position as us."

He said they had only taken multi-vitamin tablets since beginning the action on Sunday.

Richard added: "We're not going to go out of the flat, and we're not going to start eating again until the government legally recognises marriages between two men or two women."

'Same rights'

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said the benefit system had to reflect the current laws, but stressed the couples' right to make individual claims.

He said: "This may result in the partners' aggregate benefit making them better off than if they were able to make a joint claim."

But Mr Marshall said: "We've looked into that and it would only make us about £20 better off.

"But this is not a financial thing, it is a matter of principle. We just want the same rights as heterosexual couples to make joint benefit claims."

A Home Office spokeswoman confirmed that a debate on the issue would not be considered for the foreseeable future.

She said: "We recognise that this is not satisfactory, but because of a heavy legislative programme it is unlikely to be looked at during this session of parliament."