Labour MP bids to 'close loopholes' in marriage legislationpublished at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018
Ten Minute Rule Bill
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Fabian Hamilton is now tabling his Marriage and Civil Partnership (Consent) Bill as a ten minute rule motion. The bill would require a person registering a marriage or civil partnership to ensure there is valid consent from both parties.
He tells of a constituent in her 90s who suffered from dementia and married a much younger man in secret, without the knowledge of family or friends.
Her family then learnt after her death that marriage automatically revokes a previous will and it was impossible to annul the marriage. Most of the anecdotal evidence suggested his constituent had "absolutely no knowledge" of her marriage, he says.
The bill attempts to close some of the loopholes in marriage legislation that allowed this to happen, he explains.
The proceeds to second reading without opposition.