Richard has recently got the backing of Kemi Badenoch to ban marraiges between first cousins.
After speaking to the media, Richard said:
"It’s something I campaigned on as a backbencher and it is great to see the whole Conservative Party swing behind my call for a ban on 1st cousin marriage.
I know many of you will be saying “I thought it was already banned” but I’m sadly it isn’t.
Following Kemi’s comments, I gave interviews on GB News, TalkTV UK, and CBS News.
There are 3 clear reasons to stop 1st cousin marriage.
Health. Consanguinity (having kids with someone closely related to you) leads to shed loads of genetic issues- many ypu don’t know about until after birth. There are many times higher than on the general population. They are a tragedy for those who needlessly have to endure them - especially women who take on more caring roles generally - and we all have to bear these avoidable burdens via the NHS etc. These issues are multiplied when it goes on generation after generation.
Freedom. A tiny number of people marry their 1st cousin in non-pressured environments. Sadly, forced and arranged intra-family marriages account for up to 70% of marriages within certain parts of the British Pakistani community. If you share the same set of Grandparents it’s almost impossible to leave a relationship as you’re not leaving your partner you’re leaving your entire friendship network and extended family too. So once you’re in, you can never leave. Personal freedom about choice of partner is more important than allowing misogynistic cultural tradition to continue.
Societal strength and harmony. One of the most important things in our society should be that, by and large, we trust and respect each other, we don’t cut ourselves off from each other, we have the rule of law which we live under (rather than clan rules). This is the basis of our society with common values and common bonds. If parts of the community are allowed to be cut off from that then we undermine the whole, which helps no-one and one risks the broader societal harmony we all want to see.
I am fully aware this issues doesn’t affect everyone everywhere. But neither did the law I ensured got changed banning the quack science of so-called “Virginity Testing” and banning Hymenoplasty in the UK when Conservatives were in Government. The most important things we can do is to protect the vulnerable and I think this is another step to doing that.
It is incumbent of those of us in a position to do something to at least try.
Some will talk the talk on difficult issues but do nothing, some will try and exploit them and don’t want them to be solved because it suits them to have a running sore, and some will try and do something to make things better. I always want to be in this latter group whenever I can be."
