Step parent rights

I wonder if someone is able to clarify something for me.
Does a step-parent have rights legally over a step child?
This, again is for my friend.
She was never married to her ex and when he left her he married the woman he left for. My friend has had a boyfriend for 3 years.
The children rarely see their father and his wife but live with my friend and her boyf.
Due to non payment of child support and that contact isn''t regular (on dads terms) my friends boyf looks after the children (both under 8) really well. He takes them to school, watches every play, goes to parents evening, comforts them, pays for them (as child support of £5 a week is not often paid and even if it were it covers nothing), takes them on holiday etc etc.
The last time the children saw Dad they were told that friends boyf was NOT their step dad (older child had said they had a mum and step dad and a dad and step mum).
Friend then got an email saying that as they were married his wife has legal rights over the children whereas boyf is "merely" a boyf and has no legal rights and is not to be referred to as a step father but as "mums boyf".
I know it''s a petty thing..what should it matter? But the thing is it does matter to my friend. OK so in the legal terms her boyf isnt a "step" father but he loves the kids as his own whereas the legal step-mother has seen the children 2 times in 2 years and has banned them from their dads house because they are frightened of her and dont talk. She doesn''t even know them!

No step-parents do not have parental responsibility for step-children unless they apply to court and are granted it or they adopt.

Hats off to him though because he obviously takes responsibility and provides security and love.

Thank you.
It is just that friend ex has sent her an email saying that his wife has rights over the children but that friends boyf has no rights over them.
My friend knows her boyf has no rights over the children but it would be galling for her if dads wife did who does nothing at all for the kids (and probably wouldnt recognise them if she saw them on the street).
Knowing Dad and his wife as I do I''d imagine that his wife WOULD want parental responsibility, not to benefit the children but to hurt my friend.
How common is it for step parents to gain parental responsibility and why would they want it when the children have a Mum and Dad who both have it already?
Thank you.

The father has PR his new wife doesn''t.
She really is an irrelevance legally.
Personally just don''t engage with the game playing.It''s obvious they must be bored and are trying to provoke some reaction.
Have you had an argument lately when you told the biological father... the boyfriend was more of a father than he ever had been?
Because this wouldn''t just come out of nowhere.
All the best
Pete

No they didnt have an argument relating to this. It came about when older child was saying I have a mum and step dad and a dad and step mum. Friends ex doesnt want friends boyf to be referred to as step dad.
Mine you from my view point it''s always been double standards wherein ex''s Mrs (even when she wasnt married to him) was allowed to send my friend the most horrific emails and texts whereas in friends ex''s eyes her boyf doesnt exist (even though he''s brought the kids up for 3 years).

Well it''s all just words.
Stepdad,boyfriend,partner.
The fact remains he is still living with the child.
It really is a complete irrelevance what the fathers opinion is.
All the best
Pete x

In my view neither the wife or the bf are stepmother or stepfather, whilst the child has a living mother and father who they see.

However, if you want a dictionary definition then it is the relationship of a child with a parent''s new wife or husband.