Badenoch Proposes Ban on Cousin Marriages for Social Cohesion

0:00On March 30th, Kimmy Badanak, the conservative leader, says she might ban first cousin marriages if she becomes prime minister. It's part of a bigger push for social cohesion, including looking at outlawing burkas and other face coverings. She warns this practice fuel separatism in some communities and wants policies to bring everyone together before the next election. The idea comes from a Tory review on culture and integration. Urban marriages are still legal in the UK, but have spiked in places like British, Pakistani groups. In parts of Bradford, nearly half of Pakistani mothers are wed to first or second cousins, raising big health worries like birth defects and genetic, issues, Tory MP. Richard Holden backs the ban hard, pointing to risks for kids and how it blocks blending into wider society. He notes it was rare before, but now needs tackling to strengthen national bonds. The review digs into more, like kneecobs and how communities treat women or raised children. Badanak stresses practical steps, like not overloading police without more officers.

1:05Health services are feeling it too, with trusts in Manchester, Bradford, and elsewhere hiring Urdu, speaking nurses to support cousin couples having, babies. This all signals a real drive to fix integration gaps across the board.