UK blow for Manx civil partnerships

The UK has dashed hopes of a boom in couples visiting the Island to register civil partnerships.

The UK's first opposite sex partnership was registered on the Isle of Man in October when London couple Claire Beale and Martin Loat came to Douglas.

It was hoped the move might attract more people to visit the Island to follow suit.

But now, the British government say it won't recognise the opposite-sex partnerships in the UK.

Last week, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Equalities Baroness Hussein-Ece asked a written question in the House of Lords.

She wanted to know if the UK would recognise Manx civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples.

Lord Nash, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, was quick to dash hopes, saying there were no plans to do so.

In his answer, he said because there's no such provision in the UK, opposite sex couples won't have their civil partnerships recognised under UK law.