Commons Bill on increasing the marriage age passes second reading

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (minimum age) bill introduced into the House of Commons by Pauline Latham MP this morning has unanmously passed its second reading.

The bill seeks to increase the minimum age of marriage from 16 to 18, and would make it an offence, punishable with up to 7 years imprisonment, to carry out “any conduct for the purpose of causing a child to enter into a marriage”.

The Private Members Bill was originally to be proposed by the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, but Mrs Latham took the bill over after Mr Javid was reappointed to the Cabinet back in June.

Commenting on the Bill this morning on Twitter, Mr Javid said, “Child marriage is child abuse and it’s time we put an end to it”.

Currently, marriage and civil partnerships are legal at 16 and 17 with parental consent.