Britain Mainstreams First-Cousin Marriage in the Name of “Diversity”
The fear of “stigmatizing” minority groups has grown so acute that it now overrides the obligation to speak plainly about reality
In a story that sounds like it’s straight out of The Onion or The Babylon Bee, the British Prime Minister and the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) are now on the record defending first-cousin marriages in the name of diversity, tolerance, and multiculturalism.
In recent years, the U.K. has taken in millions of migrants from countries with troubling practices like child marriage, polygamy, and first-cousin marriages. For instance, 1.6 million people of Pakistani ancestry now reside in Britain, a country of just 70 million. Studies have found that an astonishing 65 percent of marriages in Pakistan are between cousins – a union that puts children at a far greater risk for birth defects and genetic disorders.
But instead of assimilating these migrants to Western culture and values – like not marrying your cousin – British leaders and public health “experts” are instead excusing the practice and even arguing that it can be a net positive for British society.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer thrust this issue into the spotlight earlier this year when he indicated that he would block a bill put forth by Conservative minister Richard Holden banning first-cousin marriage.
When pressed, Starmer refused to say why he opposed the bill – even though data shows that its urgently needed in Britain. One study found that in the city of Bradford, 46 percent of the female Pakistani community said they were in a “consanguineous relationship,” meaning the husband and wife had a common ancestor. 10 years ago, that figure was reportedly as high as 60 percent.
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) furthered the controversy last month when it published – and then shortly thereafter deleted – an article titled, “Should the U.K. government ban first-cousin marriage?”
While mentioning the medical risks in children from first-cousin marriages, the NHS article went on to cite the supposed “benefits” of such arrangements, such as strengthening family networks and providing economic advantages.
Rather than sticking to strict medical guidance, the NHS article instead seemingly made an effort to avoid offending certain immigrant communities where cousin marriage remains common. In doing so, the NHS elevated cultural sensitivity above truth and the public good – highlighting precisely why trust in public health institutions has collapsed in recent years.
Comically, in an attempt to justify its position within British culture, the article reached back to the sixteenth century, noting that cousin marriage was legalized during the reign of Henry VIII, as though appealing to royal precedent from 500 years ago could destigmatize a practice modern Western societies have long rejected.
This episode is not an isolated incident, but rather emblematic of a broader trend throughout the West where public institutions hide, excuse, or even celebrate cultural practices that undermine public safety or directly contradict both science and long-standing social norms.