In a Q&A with PinkNews, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband has said he will legalise humanist marriages in England and Wales if he becomes Prime Minister after the general election on 7 May. This follows a similar promise made by the Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg in PinkNews earlier in the month.
Miliband said:
‘There was widespread support for humanist marriage across Parliament during the passage of Equal Marriage and across the country, including from Labour. We still support the legal recognition of humanist marriages and we’ll review the law for those who wish to marry with a humanist celebration.’
The Government had been expected to legalise humanist marriages in 2014 following a consultation mandated by the 2013 Marriage Act found that a majority of the public supported humanist organisations to conduct legal marriages, as well as no practical obstacles to changing the law. Due to Conservative Party interference however, legalisation was blocked and Liberal Democrat Justice Minister Simon Hughes instead called for a broader review of marriage law.
In December last year, representatives for Labour and the Liberal Democrats said their parties would commit to legalise humanist marriage, and the Green Party leader Natalie Bennett promised the same. The SNP also supports humanist marriages in Scotland, where they are already legal and very popular.
British Humanist Association Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns Pavan Dhaliwal commented, ‘Legal recognition for humanist marriages will be good for marriage as a whole and means a great deal to thousands of couples who have their hearts set on having a non-religious marriage ceremony in line with their beliefs and values as humanists. We will continue to battle for legalisation whatever the outcome of the election.’
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For further comment or information, please contact BHA Director of Public Affairs Pavan Dhaliwal on pavan@humanists.uk or 0773 843 5059.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.