It’s worth maintaining our society’s ancient preference for marriage

“Tim, why are you writing about marriage? Not only are you not married but you’ve successfully evaded almost every wedding you were ever invited to.” Guilty as charged. I prefer a good funeral, where actually you learn a lot more about marriage than you do at a soppy wedding. When romance and desire are faded memories, what do people say by the graveside? “He was a good father.” “She was a great cook, your mother.” “We laughed a lot.”

Lifelong partnership works, which is why we should encourage it. All the evidence shows that marriage in particular makes you fitter, richer and less likely to go around the bend. Some people feel it’s not for them – what’s a piece of paper? – so, they don’t do it and, yes, they prosper.

Siobhan McLaughlin and John Adams lived together for 23 years and had four children – which is why it seemed odd, cruel even that when Mr Adams died of cancer in 2014, Ms McLaughlin was not paid the widowed parent’s allowance because they were unmarried. The Supreme Court ruled that Ms McLaughlin should get it. Now it’s up to the Government to decide whether or how to change the law.