Gay OAPs shun marriage but stick to civil partnerships

PENSIONERS are the most likely people to form same-sex civil partnerships, according to official figures.

While young gay couples are turning to marriage to cement their relationships, the older generation prefers to stick to the more-established civil partnership system.

Civil partnerships were introduced in 2005 to give gay and lesbian couples legal and financial security that were almost exactly the same as those of married people. But there was a steep decline when same-sex marriage was legalised in 2014.

The Office for National Statistics said: ‘Following the introduction of marriages of same-sex couples, the percentage of civil partnerships taking place at older ages has increased. The most popular age was 65 and over in 2015.’

The ONS figures show that last year the average age at which a couple recorded a civil partnership was nearly 50, but this was around a decade later in life than in 2013, the last year before samesex marriage was legalised.

Amanda Rimmer of law firm Stephensons said: ‘Many of these couples might have already been in long-term relationships and simply want the legal and financial security which can come with a civil partnership, while disposing with the connotations sometimes associated with marriage.’