Tories seek ban on benefits for incestuous and polygamous marriages

Kemi Badenoch has backed a bill banning benefits payments for claimants in incestuous or polygamous marriages. The draft legislation will be put in front of the Commons on Tuesday to close a loophole in the law that means extra spouses and married relatives can still claim some older benefits. Most commented 1 Russian strikes ‘leave half a million Ukrainian homes without power’ Russia-Ukraine war 387 comments 2 ‘We’re 34 — we can’t wait to start being landlords’ Property & Home 77 comments 3 The beauty expert’s all-time favourite hair products Beauty 19 comments Extra spouses are not eligible to claim newer benefits such as universal credit , Britain’s main means-tested benefit, but they can still claim a select few so-called legacy benefits. Top stories 1 Clodagh McKenna: I always get up at 6am on holiday. I love the calm Inspiration 2 16 of the best safaris in Africa Africa 3 13 of the best affordable hotels in New York New York City 4 The Marylebone pop-up for Christmas-maxxers LUXX 5 The best luxury gifts for Christmas 2026 LUXX The rules allow an additional spouse to receive an extra £125.25 per week if they are claiming pension credit or housing benefit, based on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rates. These rules are for families that started claiming the benefit before 1988, the year polygamy was no longer recognised by the benefits system. The Times understands that there are six polygamous households on these benefits. Analysis by the Conservatives found that a household of one husband and four wives — three “additional” spouses — could claim a combined total of up to £1,504.40 a week by claiming the additional rate of both housing benefit and pension credit. Advertisement Kemi Badenoch supports plans to close the loophole Lesley Martin/PA Draft legislation will be put before MPs in the form of a private member’s bill tabled by Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary and MP for Basildon & Billericay. Top stories 1 The ten companies fund managers think will make them billions Saving & Investing 2 ‘Mum is dating a fraudster. What can I do?’ Family Finances 3 Prepare now for the inheritance tax mess coming for your pension Tax It will also explicitly ban benefits payments for marriages between close relatives, such as an uncle and a niece or cousins. The Ministry of Justice has said only that these marriages are “unlikely to be recognised” but has not gone so far as to ban them entirely. Holden said that families feeling the pinch of the cost of living should not be footing the bill for men with multiple wives. “It is outrageous and undermines people’s faith that the laws we pass are abided by,” he said. “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.” Welfare review delayed until after budget Holden also urged Labour MPs to back his bill “or explain to hardworking taxpayers why they refuse to”. Advertisement The bill has already been backed by other Conservative frontbenchers, including Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, who announced her commitment to the policy in May. The DWP said: “There are robust rules in place which means there is no financial benefit for polygamous households, to ensure fairness across our benefit system. Our immigration rules have generally prevented the formation of polygamous households in this country since 1988, and benefit support is only available where the marriage took place in a country where it is legal. “We believe very few, if any, polygamous households claim pension credit, housing benefit or any benefit support.”