"Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem deputy leader, said that the Government will allow same-sex couples to have civil marriage with same legal status as marriage between a man and a woman. His comments follow moves by a Lib Dem minister to allow homosexual couples to have religious elements to their civil partnership ceremonies," reports UK Telegraph. "Under current rules, same-sex couples can contract a civil partnership, which is recognised in law but not given the same status as marriage for a heterosexual couple. Mr Hughes predicted that before the next general election, the law will be changed to give an equal right to full marriage." READ MORE