Full Breakdown
Labour Considers Private Members’ Bill to Ban First-Cousin Marriage
8/25/2026, 11:48:27 AM
Core Event
On June 17, Shadow Health Minister Dr Luke Evans introduced a Private Members’ Bill – the *First Cousins (Prohibited Relationships) Bill* – to prohibit marriage, civil partnerships and sexual relationships between first cousins. The move follows a tribunal ruling that allowed a Sudanese migrant, Isra Abdallah Ibrahim, to remain in the UK with her first cousin, reviving debate over the practice.
Background & Data
First-cousin marriage was illegal in England until Henry VIII’s break with Rome in 1540. Recent research cited by the article notes that children of such unions face higher risks of speech and language difficulties, developmental delays and birth defects, with some studies suggesting they are twice as likely to suffer a birth defect. Consanguineous marriage rates were reported at 43 percent among British Pakistanis in inner-city Bradford in 2023. A YouGov poll released last year found 47 percent of Pakistani and Bangladeshi Britons supported a ban, compared with 77 percent of white and Indian Britons.
Official Statements & Responses
Dr Evans argued that the law should be clear about the boundaries of close family relationships and cited the genetic health risks. Labour’s Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said the party is looking at “broader reform of marriage law,” while Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones described the debate as “complex and sensitive.” Labour leader Andy Burnham was invited to cross-party talks on the proposal.
Criticism & Opposition
Conservative MP Richard Holden warned that Labour feared a backlash if it pursued a ban and accused the party of “secretly” supporting cousin marriage. Former Labour frontbencher Barry Gardiner said he would not vote for a ban, noting that Queen Victoria married her maternal cousin.
What’s Next
The bill is not expected to return for a second reading in the House of Commons until January 15 of next year, when the government will have an opportunity to decide whether to advance the legislation.
