Second Conservative shadow cabinet member enters into a Civil Partnership

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert MP becomes the second member of David Cameron's shadow cabinet team (after Alan Duncan MP) to enter into a Civil Partnership. He 'married' his partner of nine years, Jason Eades (a solicitor), last week in a low-key ceremony at Lambeth Town Hall attended only by close relatives of both men and followed by a reception at Brown's Hotel in Mayfair (London).

In contrast, no member of Gordon Brown's Labour cabinet has so far entered into a civil partnership, although a few Labour MPs have done so.

Mr Herbert has the full support of his constituency association; according to Malcolm Gill, the association chairman in the Arundel and South Downs constituency represented by the MP:

"The reaction among activists has been very favourable. We have a well-respected MP and Jason is very popular, too. We are delighted for both of them."

This is a very welcome reaction in what is by any standard one of the more 'true blue' Conservative constituencies so is perhaps a sign that the Conservative Party really is changing.