Commons2nd readingView on Parliament.uk

Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill

A Bill to prohibit the marriage of first cousins; and for connected purposes.

Originating House

House of Commons

Sponsor

Mr Richard HoldenConservative

Last Updated

9 January 2026

In Plain English

AI-generated

This Bill would make it illegal for people to marry their first cousin. It would change the law to prohibit such marriages and include related provisions to implement and enforce the ban.

Key Points

Prohibits marriages between first cousins.
Would alter current marriage law to ban such marriages across the Bill’s scope.
Includes connected provisions to implement and enforce the ban.
Introduced in the House of Commons as a Private Members’ Bill by Conservative MP Richard Holden.

Progress

The Bill is currently at its second reading in the House of Commons, where its general principles are being debated. If it progresses, it would move to committee stage for detailed examination.

Who is affected?

People who are or may be in a first-cousin relationship and wish to marryFamilies of those affectedMarriage registrars and civil celebrantsReligious and cultural communities with traditional or personal practices around cousin marriagesLegal advisers and professionals involved in marriage law

Generated 21 February 2026

Updates & Documents

News (1)

Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill

11 Sept 2025

The next stage for this Bill, Second reading, is scheduled to take place on Friday 27 February, although the House of Commons is not expected to be sitting on that date.

This is a Private Members' Bill and was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday 10 December 2024 under the Ten Minute Rule.

Documents (1)

Bill 146 2024-25 (as introduced)

BillCommons

15 Jan 2025

Parliamentary Votes (0)

No recorded votes for this bill yet.

Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill | TrackPolitics