Tories take aim at polygamous marriages in welfare crackdown

The Tories are taking the fight to polygamous and incestuous marriage today, with a Bill to end welfare recognition of men with multiple wives. Richard Holden’s Social Security (Marriage) Bill would close a loophole under which overseas polygamous marriages are recognised by the DWP for benefit purposes, allowing men with multiple wives to claim taxpayer-funded payments for their additional spouses. These can include pension credit and housing benefit. Holden said: ‘Families struggling with the cost of living should not be footing the bill for men with multiple wives. Yet our benefits system still gives special recognition to polygamous marriages contracted overseas. It is outrageous and undermines people’s faith that the laws we pass are abided by. My Bill would end those additional-spouse provisions and put beyond doubt that overseas incestuous marriages, including uncle–niece and aunt–nephew marriages, have no place in our welfare system or society. Contracting a marriage abroad should never be a bypass route around the standards we uphold in Britain. Andy Burnham and his Labour MPs now have a simple choice: back my Bill or explain to hardworking taxpayers why they refuse to.’ Kemi Badenoch is backing the legislation, as well as a separate Private Members’ Bill from Tory MP Dr Luke Evans to ban cousin marriage. When Holden previously tried to outlaw the revolting practice, Labour refused to support him. Why ever could that be… The pro-Gaza MP Iqbal Mohammed even came into the Commons chamber to mount an impassioned defence of the right to have sex with one’s cousin. Will Labour change course this time? Mr S certainly won’t hold his breath.