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Millions of unmarried couples to get ‘stronger’ rights and more financial security

A consultation is now live.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 9th June 2026

Millions of unmarried couples in England are set to get ‘stronger’ rights and more financial security.

As the Government continues to prioritise tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VWAG) and working people, and ultimately meet the needs of modern relationships, more than 3.5 million unmarried couples are to be given more financial security under a new consultation which launched last week (Friday 5 June).

Designed to ‘shape future law’ and ‘better reflect modern society’, the consultation is looking to strengthen rights and make the separation process less financially difficult for cohabiting couples and those who simply choose not to marry. 

The Government says it recognises that, due to cost of living pressures, financial security is more important than ever and the current ‘outdated’ system offers unmarried couples who live together limited financial rights if their relationship ends. 

The proposals will help couples – including survivors of domestic abuse – gain independence at the end of a cohabitating relationship, whatever their marital status.

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The consultation will also explore whether courts should give greater weight to the impact of domestic abuse, including controlling or coercive behaviour or economic abuse, when assessing finances for married couples and cohabitants.   

Protections for cohabiting couples will also be ‘levelled up’ by giving automatic rights to inherit if their partner dies without a will.

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The Government is also proposing making pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements legally binding.

Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, says these reforms ‘strike an important balance’ between tradition and modernity.

“When a relationship comes to an end, each partner should have the support and certainty they need to rebuild their life,” he commented. “We’re launching this consultation to make sure our new family law builds a fair system that offers the most vulnerable protection in the event of a breakup, and at a time where the country is facing cost of living pressures.”

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Justice Minister Baroness Levitt KC concluded: “Financial independence should “be afforded to everybody – not just those who choose to marry or enter into a civil partnership.”

You can have your say on the consultation on the Government website here.

Featured Image – Pixnio

News

Former Salford school teacher jailed for child sex offences against pupil

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A former Salford school teacher has been jailed for non-recent child sex offences against a pupil.

Gary Day-Davies, from Tyldesley, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Monday 8 June 2026) for his sentencing after being found guilty of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault by touching of a child.

The offences occurred between 2006-09, when the victim was a pupil at a school in Salford that Day-Davies taught at.

The abuse took place both at school and in Day-Davies’ home after he invited the survivor to his house for ‘additional tuition’, before plying them with drugs and alcohol, and then proceeding to sexually abuse her.

The survivor bravely reported her abuse to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) back in 2022, a officers then conducted a thorough investigation.

Throughout the investigation, Day-Davies denied the offences.

When he was on trial, police say he provided little explanation and stated that the charges came as the survivor ‘must have just held a bit of a grudge’ against him.

Following the trial and sentencing, Day-Davies has been jailed for 15 years.

“Day-Davies took advantage of the young age of the survivor to invite her to his home and sexually abuse her,” explained Inspector Dave Ogden, of GMP’s Criminal Investigation Department in Salford. “He further sexually abused the survivor in the library and store cupboard in a classroom.”

Inspector Ogden insisted that ‘time is no barrier’, adding: “No matter how long ago it was, or how old you were at the time, we will listen to you.”

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If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence. Report it to the police or a support agency, so you can get the help available.

  • Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre – 0161 276 6515
  • Greater Manchester Rape Crisis – call on 0161 273 4500 or email [email protected]
  • Survivors Manchester – 0161 236 2182

Featured Image – GMP

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Police give update after bomb squad descended on Fallowfield and evacuated residents

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant GMP synagogue attack

Police have given an update after officers were called to investigate reports of two ‘suspicious items’ found in front gardens in Fallowfield.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to Abram Close, in the Fallowfield area of Manchester, shortly after 6:05pm this past Saturday (6 June 2026) following a report of a ‘suspicious item’ being found in a front garden, and officers attended the scene alongside the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD).

After the EOD made an assessment of the scene, around 20 nearby properties were advised by police to evacuate ‘as a precaution’.

As the investigation continued across the weekend, a second suspicious item was then found outside a property on Rostherne Avenue at around 2:45pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 7 June), and once again, officers and partner agencies attended the scene to put a cordon in place.

As a precaution, several other houses in the area of the second property were also asked to evacuate while this work continues.

No arrests have been made at this time, but enquiries are ongoing.

“We thank everyone for their patience so far whilst we deal with this incident, as our investigation into the full circumstances continues,” commented Detective Chief Inspector Peter Morley, of GMP’s City of Manchester Division.

“Incidents such as these are likely to cause alarm in the local community, but please be reassured that there is no wider threat.

“Officers will be on hand to ensure the safety of people in the nearby area, so please speak to them if you have any concerns. As our work continues, it is vital that anyone who has any information, no matter how small, should report it to us and allow us to investigate.”

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Can you help? Any information, CCTV, dash cam, or mobile phone footage can be shared with police online via the LiveChat service at gmp.police.uk, or by calling 0161 856 4259, quoting the log number 1948 of 07/06/26.

Details can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – GMP

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