Anger as Labour plays politics with Partnership Bill in Brighton and Hove

Opposition councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council have forced the withdrawal of a highly political Labour Party motion on the Civil Partnership Bill for same-sex couples at yesterday's April Full Council Meeting (22 April). The motion was withdrawn for reconsideration to ensure
cross party support.

Lib Dem City Council Group Leader, Councillor Paul Elgood, who had tabled an amendment to the motion to make it less partisan with Green councillor Simon Williams, said:

"By scoring cheap political points on civil partnerships, Labour councillors played political football with an issue which matters so deeply to the LGBT community. They do no service to the LGBT community in doing this. They should have proposed a motion which would draw cross party support to ensure a united voice from the council.

'For some time the gay members of the council have worked constructively together on issues of importance to the LGBT community. It is in the interests of the community that we do this. It is a shame that Labour councillors did not approach this critical issue in this vein.'

Simon Williams Green Councillor for St Peters & North Laine, who is gay, said: "This is a victory for the whole LGBT community as no one party has been allowed to hijack the important issue of equal pension rights for same sex couples.

"Equally we could not allow New Labour to take the credit for the slow progress eventually achieved in other areas such as equalising the age of consent. This has more to do with the unceasing work of campaigners on the ground and the courage of the European Court of Human Rights rather than the Government. Locally, even now the city council of the supposed 'gay capital' of England still refuses to recognise same-sex partners rights in council house tenancies - even for couples who opt for the Council's own commitment ceremony! The truth is very different from the spin. It is a relief the motion was withdrawn at the last minute once they know it would
not succeed."

Commenting on pensions Councillor Elgood added: "A key concern for the LGBT community with the Civil Partnership Bill is in the area of pensions. The Bill will only provide survivor pensions for same-sex partners in public sector schemes from the date of their partnership registration, not the start of their relationship. This contrasts with straight people who get married and their entire career taken into account. This will particularly affect couples approaching retirement age and is an important question of equity. Same-sex partners have made the same contributions and, indeed, have helped pay pensions for surviving spouses for many years.