I've been with my partner for 35 years, sharing a deeper commitment than perhaps many couples who marry, divorce, and remarry. We never felt the need to validate our relationship with marriage, simply because it doesn't align with our beliefs. Yet, as long-term, committed partners, we now face an unfair penalty: a 40% inheritance tax, which we would avoid if we chose to marry. It's perplexing and frustrating to be forced into a legally binding institution, against our own convictions, just to escape this financial burden.

It's not just about us. Many couples across the UK face this same dilemma. They share love, life, and loyalty, but the law fails to recognise these relationships on par with marriage. According to the Office for National Statistics, there are over 3.3 million cohabiting couple families in the UK, a number that continues to rise. Countless partners may be subject to this inheritance tax penalty purely due to their marital status, or lack thereof.

We need lawmakers to understand that love and commitment persist outside of marriage. We need a change in the inheritance tax law to reflect the modern world where long-term partnerships are a valid lifestyle choice.

A solution could be to offer a legal recognition of long-term partnerships that grants similar tax rights as married couples, without requiring marriage. Considering the evolving nature of relationships, this would offer fairness to those who decide against marrying.

By signing this petition, you support the call for legislative reform to end this discrimination against unmarried, committed couples. Let's work together to achieve a fair solution that respects personal choice and fosters equality under the law.