UK Prime Minister Dismisses Call to Ban Cousin Marriages
Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK, has declined to endorse a ban on marriages between first cousins, even as his health minister describes the practice as hazardous.
During a debate, Conservative MP Richard Holden pressed Starmer to reconsider his stance against the ban, as reported by various outlets. Starmer responded by stating, “We have taken a position on this bill, thank you.”
Holden urged the Prime Minister to reconsider blocking the legislation. A representative for Starmer conveyed that while the government disapproves of first-cousin marriages, they did not clarify the reasoning behind opposing the bill.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has openly recognized the risks associated with cousin marriages. He mentioned, “Marriage between cousins is risky and unsafe, and we are seeing the genetic defects and harm it causes,” although he stopped short of advocating for a ban.
Holden has accused the Labour Party of concealing its true views on the matter, claiming, “But Labour supports cousin marriage and is trying to hide its secret support for the practice.”
The proposed Marriage (Prohibited Marriage Relations) Bill, first introduced by Holden in December 2024, has not progressed for at least 395 days. A second reading that was planned for January 2025 did not occur. Historically, marrying cousins was prohibited in England for a millennium until Henry VIII altered the regulation in 1540.
Interestingly, data reveals that around 43% of British Pakistanis in Bradford have married their first or second cousins in 2023, with even higher figures in some rural regions of Pakistan.
Independent MP Iqbal Mohammed has argued against the bill, stating that it could stigmatize specific communities. He advocates for education and genetic counseling rather than legislative action.
The issue has drawn attention from international figures as well, including Sarah Rogers, an ally of former President Trump, who recently criticized the UK government’s position.
