McGrath,

As I see it, whilst there is little difference in law between marriage and civil partnership, you then have to ask so why not the same word?

And that is is the issue. (Starting a sentence with "and" is a completely different issue.)

The benefit of the change is that people can legally say they are married rather than some Blairspeke term. It removes the stigma that bigots would prefer to remain in place. I cannot think of a better reason, decency being what it is and all that.

As my wife and I are not planning children, does that mean we are not married? The old people I referred to above? My work colleague and her wife?