Sir Elton steps into US elections

Sir Elton John has stepped into the forthcoming US elections by donating £11,000 to a group trying to stop gay marriage being banned in Wisconsin.

Voters in the Midwest state will decide on a constitutional amendment on the issue on Tuesday.

Fair Wisconsin, a group fighting the proposed ban, said Sir Elton had made an in-kind contribution by allowing it to use his song Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me in a campaign advert without paying royalties.

Spokesman Josh Freker said the £11,000 figure represented the sum that had been waived based on how much the TV ad has aired.

The group argues that the proposed amendment would also ban civil unions comparable with marriage, which would threaten benefits for all unmarried couples, gay and straight.

Sir Elton exchanged vows with his long-time partner, David Furnish, in a civil partnership ceremony in Windsor last year.