Legal marriage age

Does this mark a definite separation between Church and State? Having the age of consent two years younger than the age of legal marriage is suggesting that sex before marriage is sanctioned.

I doubt that many people marry at 16 in order to have sex, but there are likely to be more babies born out of wedlock with the new system. Whilst there is little or no social stigma around that nowadays, it seems odd to enshrine it in law.

Overall I don’t know what to think. I would not have been happy if my children had married so young, but if someone wants to it seems unreasonable to deny them the right to do so. As maddy says, forced marriages will still go on abroad- better to put more resources into stopping those from going ahead, really. There are things that people can do (eg phone apps that call for help but are disguised as games or music) but a lot of the time girls don’t know it’s being planned so don’t know they need to take precautions, and anyway would worry about the implications of backing out for their families.

They would also worry about the implications for themselves - honour killings.

I find it disappointing that the law for everyone has been changed in misguided attempt to protect the minority.

Seems to be the order of the day now GSM

I used to work with a lovely lady whose family came from Bangladesh. She told me that when she was seventeen she went to Bangladesh with her family for a holiday. Once there she was told she going to marry someone who was ten years older than herself. She said she stayed in her bedroom and cried for three weeks, but then she still had to marry him. They then came back to England and he came with them. By the time I knew her they had four children and he still couldn’t speak English. I felt sorry for her but she was always happy and cheerful. She said she loves him now.
This law won’t stop this from happening. Sadly.

Doodledog

Norah

I wonder if young couples will still marry in Gretna Green?

My son got married there, and there is a thriving wedding industry 😀. It was a wonderful weekend - we had great weather, the venue and accommodation were fantastic and the officials made it feel like we were the only ones getting married that day, when I think they were doing a wedding every half hour. Even the other guests in the hotel were all in good moods and dressed in their finest, although there were a few who looked a bit green around the gills at breakfast . I can’t see that dying out, whatever happens to the minimum age to get married.

We celebrated our golden there. Nobody but us, like an elopement really. Lovely place. We may repeat the journey at the 65 year mark.

As far as I know, someone in Britain who facilitates the marriageof someone under 16 is still covered by this law even if the marriage takes place overseas.

do you mean under 18 ?

welbeck Yes, I do.