MPs vote on 'gay pensions'

MPs are to vote on whether their gay and unmarried partners should be given the same pension rights as married couples.

Although nurses, teachers and doctors will not be allowed the right, MPs have to decide this year whether partners who are unmarried but have had an exclusive relationship will be entitled to a widow or widower's pension.

The legal change comes into force for civil servants in autumn and a committee is looking at extending the right to MPs. But if the Government goes ahead with the reform, it will cause concern among public service workers.

The National Union of Teachers said: "We have become used to one rule applying to MPs and an entirely different set of rules for the rest of us."