BrowsePetitions#710027
PETITIONClosedPetition · petition.parliament.uk

Ban cousin marriages

We call upon the Government to introduce legislation banning cousin marriages. Marriage is already illegal between siblings, so why not cousins?

Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
579
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 579/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 579/100,000
Background
If cousins marry and have children, there is a risk it can lead to a number of serious medical defects in those children. We believe marriage between cousins, which may be acceptable in some countries and cultures, should not be allowed in the UK. We think it is time the Government took a stance and introduces legislation to ban cousin marriages.