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| Civil partnerships: 'Why I want one with my sister' | Civil partnerships: 'Why I want one with my sister' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Catherine Utley has lived with her sister Ginda for more than 30 years. | Catherine Utley has lived with her sister Ginda for more than 30 years. |
| The pair raised Catherine's daughter together and jointly own a house in south London. | The pair raised Catherine's daughter together and jointly own a house in south London. |
| And they are among a number of siblings who want to be allowed to enter into a civil partnership. | And they are among a number of siblings who want to be allowed to enter into a civil partnership. |
| When the idea was aired on Twitter yesterday by a Tory MP, he was met with huge outcry and accused of supporting incest and being "ridiculous". | When the idea was aired on Twitter yesterday by a Tory MP, he was met with huge outcry and accused of supporting incest and being "ridiculous". |
| But civil partnerships for siblings is something which campaigners have long called for. | But civil partnerships for siblings is something which campaigners have long called for. |
| "There's no real argument against it," says Catherine Utley, 59. "People are getting the wrong end of the stick." | "There's no real argument against it," says Catherine Utley, 59. "People are getting the wrong end of the stick." |
| She has lived with elder sister Ginda, 63 - full name Virginia - for most of her adult life since they bought their first flat together in 1985. | She has lived with elder sister Ginda, 63 - full name Virginia - for most of her adult life since they bought their first flat together in 1985. |
| "She stood by me when I had my child in 1993," says Catherine. | "She stood by me when I had my child in 1993," says Catherine. |
| "I got pregnant and it wasn't planned and it wasn't possible for me to live with the father and so it would have been a complete nightmare. | "I got pregnant and it wasn't planned and it wasn't possible for me to live with the father and so it would have been a complete nightmare. |
| "My dear sister's immediate reaction was to stand by us. We bought a house together to be close to our two brothers, and it was just a wonderful thing. | "My dear sister's immediate reaction was to stand by us. We bought a house together to be close to our two brothers, and it was just a wonderful thing. |
| "She's been my rock, totally." | "She's been my rock, totally." |
| Catherine says there is a "special bond" for siblings who live together in adulthood. | Catherine says there is a "special bond" for siblings who live together in adulthood. |
| "She's like my other half, she's my best friend. I've known her since I was born. Some people don't get on with their siblings but if you do it can be a very strong relationship." | "She's like my other half, she's my best friend. I've known her since I was born. Some people don't get on with their siblings but if you do it can be a very strong relationship." |
| Growing up, Catherine's daughter, Olivia, 24, said it "just completely felt like two parents". | Growing up, Catherine's daughter, Olivia, 24, said it "just completely felt like two parents". |
| "I don't consider my mum and aunt any more a parent than the other. It was just a very happy, stable home. People thought Livvy had two mums and that was that." | "I don't consider my mum and aunt any more a parent than the other. It was just a very happy, stable home. People thought Livvy had two mums and that was that." |
| Catherine and Ginda want to be able to enter into a civil partnership so they can enjoy the same inheritance rights as other couples who have formalised their relationship. | Catherine and Ginda want to be able to enter into a civil partnership so they can enjoy the same inheritance rights as other couples who have formalised their relationship. |
| "When my sister dies or I die one of us will have to sell the home to pay for the inheritance tax." | "When my sister dies or I die one of us will have to sell the home to pay for the inheritance tax." |
| Catherine says it is a "glaring injustice" because civil partnerships are open to any two people. They don't need to be involved in a romantic relationship - they just cannot be blood relatives. | Catherine says it is a "glaring injustice" because civil partnerships are open to any two people. They don't need to be involved in a romantic relationship - they just cannot be blood relatives. |
| "Excluding siblings is pure discrimination. I could have a civil partnership with my next door neighbour, but I can't have a civil partnership with the person I have shared my home and life with." | "Excluding siblings is pure discrimination. I could have a civil partnership with my next door neighbour, but I can't have a civil partnership with the person I have shared my home and life with." |
| She adds: "I'm not saying civil partnerships is the only way the inequality can be addressed, but it's the most obvious way. They could do something about inheritance tax by changing the rules." | She adds: "I'm not saying civil partnerships is the only way the inequality can be addressed, but it's the most obvious way. They could do something about inheritance tax by changing the rules." |
| They bought their house for £175,000 but because property prices have increased, their home is worth much more. Under inheritance tax laws, property over a certain threshold is taxed at a rate of 40% when passed on. | |
| The issue is in the spotlight after the government announced that the option of a civil partnership is to be extended to mixed-sex couples. Previously, they were only available to same-sex couples. | The issue is in the spotlight after the government announced that the option of a civil partnership is to be extended to mixed-sex couples. Previously, they were only available to same-sex couples. |
| Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh said: "Why should siblings who've lived together for years have to pay estate duty when one dies?" | Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh said: "Why should siblings who've lived together for years have to pay estate duty when one dies?" |
| He has previously backed a bill, put forward by Lord Lexden, which wants to open up civil partnerships to siblings. | He has previously backed a bill, put forward by Lord Lexden, which wants to open up civil partnerships to siblings. |
| Arguing the case for the bill, Lord Lexden said: "The central issue is this: why should all those whom the government presume are in a sexual relationship, whether heterosexual or gay, enjoy legal recognition, and only those who live together in committed, secure, platonic relationships be denied it?" | Arguing the case for the bill, Lord Lexden said: "The central issue is this: why should all those whom the government presume are in a sexual relationship, whether heterosexual or gay, enjoy legal recognition, and only those who live together in committed, secure, platonic relationships be denied it?" |
| Under his proposals, which are due to go to a House of Lords committee, both siblings would have to be aged over 30 and have lived together continuously for 12 years. | Under his proposals, which are due to go to a House of Lords committee, both siblings would have to be aged over 30 and have lived together continuously for 12 years. |
| "This is not all about us," Catherine adds. "There are so many people. We've heard of lovely old ladies in their 80s who had to sell up." | "This is not all about us," Catherine adds. "There are so many people. We've heard of lovely old ladies in their 80s who had to sell up." |
| She says living with her sister has given her companionship and friendship, and would like financial security in the future. | She says living with her sister has given her companionship and friendship, and would like financial security in the future. |
| "I have never wanted to live with anyone else." | "I have never wanted to live with anyone else." |