I read with interest that same-sex couples will now be able to ‘tie the knot’ in a civil union in front of a mayor or public official, much on the same lines as a civil marriage, and that provisions are also being made for the adoption of children by such couples.

It sounds pretty much like everything the gay community could wish for. So why refer to it as a civil union rather than a civil marriage? What is still standing in the way?

Could it be Labour’s fear of losing votes for taking a concrete stand on something and simply calling it by its name?

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