Cousins ought to be banned from marrying, MPs informed – however new Bill met with protest
Cousins should be banned from marrying each other, MPs have been told.
A call for marriage laws to be rewritten was backed in the Commons, in spite of protests from an independent MP who said the state shouldn’t intervene in marriage between adults. Tory Richard Holden – who proposed new legislation – said: “Members across the House may wonder why first cousin marriage isn’t already illegal – in fact many in this House and across the country believe it is.”
Mr Holden, the Shadow Paymaster General, cited scientific research showing marriage between cousins is linked to a higher level of genetic conditions and infant mortality. He told the Commons: “The science is clear, first cousin marriage should be banned on health grounds alone.”
He said a ban had been in place for hundreds of years until the sixteenth century, when Henry VIII broke from Rome. Mr Holden said: “Henry VIII changed the law to suit his own personal interests and pursuits.
“We should act in the national interest.” He claimed the rate had “increased significantly” in the past two generations – saying first cousin rates are highest in the Irish traveller and British Pakistani communities.
But independent MP Iqbal Mohamed questioned the law change, stating: “It is important to recognise for many people this is a highly sensitive issue and in discussing it we should try and step into the shoes of who perhaps are not from the same culture as ours to better understand why the practice continues to be so widespread.”
He said it should be treated as a health awareness and cultural issue, stating: “The way to redress this isn’t to empower the state to bar adults from marrying each other, not least because I don’t think it would be effective or enforceable.”
At the moment the law forbids people from marrying a sibling, parent or child, but first cousins are permitted to do so. In 1840 Queen Victoria married her cousin Prince Albert and went on to have nine children.
The Government has said it will take time to “properly consider our marriage law” before taking a position.