A proposal to ban marriages between first cousins in Britain may soon be debated in Parliament. Conservative MP Richard Holden plans to introduce the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday, arguing that such unions are associated with higher rates of birth defects and can “reinforce negative structures and control women.”
“Many people assume it’s already illegal and are surprised to learn otherwise,” Holden remarked. However, Labour has stated it needs time to “properly consider our marriage law” before taking a formal stance on the matter.
Under current UK law, marriages between siblings, parents, and children are prohibited by the Marriage Act 1949, but first-cousin marriages remain lawful. Similarly, while the Sexual Offences Act 2003 criminalizes sexual activity with certain family members, it does not include first cousins. Holden’s proposal would necessitate amendments to both these laws.
Studies indicate that first-cousin marriages are linked to “approximately double the rate of birth defects compared to the general population,” according to Holden. He also emphasized that such unions are “cultural rather than religious” in communities where they are more common. Research by Dr. Patrick Nash has highlighted that between 38% and 59% of British Pakistanis marry their first cousins, with Oxford professor Alison Shaw suggesting this rate may be increasing.
Ahead of his parliamentary address, Holden stated, “Building on my previous efforts to ban hymenoplasty and so-called virginity testing, I will urge the governmentnt to reconsider the legality of first-cousin marriages in the UK. Many nations and states have acted on this issue, and it is time for us to do the same.”
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting that changes to the Marriage Act 1949 and possibly the Sexual Offences Act 2003 would be required to implement such a ban. She added, “We will take the time as a new government to properly review our marriage law, including the Law Commission’s 2022 wedding report, before announcing our position.”
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Good do it . 😆