Should The Legal Age Of Marriage Be Raised To 18?

[naomi24]

Whilst it helps in bringing the issue of child marriage to the fore, it doesn’t address the reality that many of these marriages are conducted abroad, and others in religious ceremonies here which are unrecognised in British law. We can make efforts to prevent child abuse of this nature but I fear implementation of this proposed legislation will have very little effect.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jun/11/government-pledges-to-raise-legal-age-of-marriage-to-18-in-england-and-wales

[bhg481]

A big advantage of raising the marriage age is that it removes the argument "Old enough to marry but not old enough to vote" when people want to reduce the voting age.

[calmck]

Married under 18 then no child allowance

[William51]

Exactly. The minimum age or 16 is correct, the present law is working. The government must not give in to another campaign by activists.

[bednobs]

pointless - according to that article, fewer than 200 people did it in 2017 and it's falling

[douglas9401]

Perhaps making it illegal to live in the stoneage and have rules allowing child rape and murder as long as you act with 'honour' would be more worthwhile.

[andy-hughes]

It's yet another example of the givernment trying to convince the electorate that it is 'taking action', when, as naomi points out, the 'action' is lkely to be useless in terms of actually addressing the issue that the 'action' is supposed to sort out.

[naomi24]

The problem is if the government or anyone else attempted to address the real issue, they would be castigated - and that’s putting it mildly.

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // The problem is if the government or anyone else attempted to address the real issue, they would be castigated - and that’s putting it mildly. //

I think that's true.

Quite why we have reached a situation where authority is clearly scared of addressing cultural differences that absolutely impact of the safety and well-being of innocent people, I have no idea.

I wonder exactly what they imagine would happen if, as an elected government of a nominally Christian country, they took steps to stop the cultural and religious practices of a minority within this country, in the interests of everyone concerned.

I hardly think the earth would tip off its axis, but for some reason, the government obviously thinks otherwise.

[naomi24]

//I wonder exactly what they imagine would happen if, as an elected government of a nominally Christian country, they took steps to stop the cultural and religious practices of a minority within this country...//

Having seen the results of criticism in other areas, the potential result doesn't take much imagination.

[andy-hughes]

Personally, I don't think that any reaction justifies a government running scared when it comes to taking action to secure the safety and security of the people it is elected to serve.

[youngmafbog]

I'd say yes it should be raised. But not because of teh reason being touted.

[fender62]

who said rainbow nation diversity makes us stronger, some stone age practices need to be called out for what they are.

[pixie374]

There are lots of different issues from the link. He mentions 11 year olds- which is not within our laws anyway.
Parental consent- which is sometimes taken to mean compulsion, and not what it means either.
The use of the word "child" to be 11, 16 or 17, which are not similar.

Not that I think marriage should still be around anyway, but they are not focusing on the actual problems.

[woofgang]

I don't think it will help at all except to make clear that UK law does not support or condone child marriage.

[woofgang]

what have you got against marriage pixie?

[pixie374]

Old-fashioned and unnecessary, woof. People trapping themselves into legal bindings that nobody needs. I think we have well outgrown it- and as you can get divorced and remarried anyway... what does it actually mean?

[woofgang]

I like being married even though I am now widowed. You don't have to do it but why take away something that many people do like and want?

[pixie374]

It does more harm than good, in general. It's misogynistic from the start and traditions and while I wouldn't ban it- for those reasons you say- I am genuinely glad it's dying out.

[naomi24]

Like Woofgang, I like being married too. Those who don't regard marriage as something special I guess have never had a good marriage but this thread isn't about marriage per se so can we please stick to the subject.

[bednobs]

it's a bit disingenuous to have a dig at someone's marriage then say "but we cant talk about that anymore, stick to the OP" isn't it?