Bournemouth - Britain's Liberal Democrats voted overwhelmingly yesterday for a ground-breaking change in the law to give legal recognition to gay partnerships.
To loud cheers, after an emotional debate, the party conference backed a motion allowing any two unrelated people over 16 in England and Wales to enter into a "civil partnership". The move would confer on gay and lesbian couples the legal benefits afforded to heterosexual married people in areas such as pensions, inheritance, tax and social security.