Minister weds lesbian partner

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The 47-year-old Labour MP for Wallasey took part in a civil partnership ceremony with BT engineer Maria Exall at Southwark Register Offices in south London.

Dressed in a white tailored jacket and black trousers, Ms Eagle, the only openly gay woman in the House of Commons, kissed her bride in front of the 50 or so guests who had turned out to witness the ceremony.

Ms Exall, dressed more sombrely in a sharp black trouser suit, beamed at her happily as they posed for photographs.

Ms Eagle said she was delighted to be entering into a union made possible by the Labour Government's Civil Partnerships Act of 2004, which she was involved in bringing in.

Ms Eagle's twin sister, also called Maria, said after the ceremony: "It's been great, everyone was very pleased and they are very much in love."

After the ceremony the newlyweds and their guests were to return to Ms Eagle's house for a reception. A further celebration was planned for the evening at the Bread and Roses pub in Clapham.

Commons Leader Harriet Harman was expected to be among the guests.

Ms Harman announced her colleague's engagement at the TUC Congress in Brighton earlier this month. Ms Eagle, a keen cricketer, first met Ms Exall at the Peckham Labour Party.

Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan became the first Tory MP to enter into a civil partnership in July, when he wed his partner, James Dunseath.