Starmer’s Right Hand Man McFadden Won’t Say He Opposes First Cousin Marriage – Guido Fawkes

Starmer’s Right Hand Man McFadden Won’t Say He Opposes First Cousin Marriage

The weekend saw a cringe-worthy outing for Starmer’s right-hand man Pat McFadden, refusing to answer whether he believes first cousin marriage should be banned – despite the health impacts and costs to the NHS. McFadden said: “I don’t think we are planning a legal change on whatever the current position is at the moment.” That was the position Labour took on Richard Holden’s bill to ban the practice when it came before the Commons last week…

In a painful exchange with McFadden, GB News‘s Camilla Tominey was unable to extract a clear answer from him regarding whether he believed first cousin marriage should be allowed or not. Now Richard Holden MP tells Guido:

“It’s quite clear Labour are embarrassed to say why they won’t back banning first cousin marriage. Starmer’s de facto deputy, Pat McFadden, shouldn’t have to wait while No. 10 work out a line to hide their blushes after they blocked my bill for a third time this week. It’s clear to every sensible person that we should bring an end to first cousin marriage as quickly as possible, just like we’ve led the world in ending other practices that put cultural sensitivity above societal integration, women’s rights, and children’s health.”

Checkmate by Holden on an extremely awkward one for Labour. Yikes…

UPDATE: The government for some reason is now giving a very different line to the US media. Starmer’s spokesman told Fox News:

“Expert advice risks on first-cousin marriages are clear. In terms of legislation and what the government set up in the King’s Speech after the election, so of course we do not want people to enter in cousin marriages.”