Tip: For couples wondering what the "next step" is, don’t make the mistake of believing it is beating each other with hot dogs.
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the law will not be changed to grant anonymity to men accused of rape in England and Wales.The plan had been included in the government's coalition agreement but it now says it will put pressure on media outlets not to name suspects instead.It denies a U-turn saying it had never been ministers' intention to legislate.Labour and female Tory MPs said anonymity could send a negative signal about women who accuse men of rape.The plan to grant anonymity to rape suspects was a surprise inclusion in the government's coalition agreement in May. It had not been in the Conservative or Liberal Democrat election manifestos, although it had been Lib Dem policy since 2006.The coalition agreement said: "We will extend anonymity in rape cases to defendants".Prime Minister David Cameron appeared to bow to pressure from campaigners last month when he said he favoured a "limited extension" to the law to cover the period between arrest and charges.It has now been confirmed the government has no plans to change the law to grant anonymity for defendants in court.And in the House of Commons last week Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said the government wanted to find a "non statutory-solution".He added: "We are loathe to find even more statutes to put on the statute book."Mr Blunt suggested Press Complaints Commission guidance recommending the media do not identify people before they are charged with rape might be strengthened.
