NHS accused of supporting cousin marriage as it warns banning vile practice would 'stigmatise communities'

Disorders such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease are greater among the children of these marriages, critics say, which costs the NHS billions.

One in five children treated for these diseases, with congenital problems in cities such as Sheffield, Glasgow and Birmingham, are from Pakistani descent, according to figures.

This compares to four per cent or lower on the broader population.

Despite the linked health risks, the new NHS guidance warns that banning the practice would "stigmatise certain communities and cultural traditions".

It notes that cousin marriage offers some benefits, including "stronger extended family support systems and economic advantages (resources, property and inheritance can be consolidated rather than diluted across households)."

The guidance, released by NHS England's Genomics Education Programme, suggests that authorities should offer "genetic counselling, awareness-raising initiatives and public health campaigns" instead of banning the practice.

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Although acknowledging that "first-cousin marriage is linked to an increased likelihood of a child having a genetic condition or a congenital anomaly, there are many other factors that also increase this chance (such as parental age, smoking, alcohol use and assisted reproductive technologies), none of which are banned in the UK".

It adds: "Although children of first cousins have an increased chance of being born with a genetic condition, that increase is a small one: in the general population, a child's chance of being born with a genetic condition is around two-three per cent; this increases to four-six per cent in children of first cousins. Hence, most children of first cousins are healthy".

In April this year, a YouGov poll revealed that three-quarters of Britons (77 per cent) say first cousin marriage should not be legal, with only nine per cent thinking the law should remain as it is.

A ban on first-cousin marriage is popular across the main parties, with 76-77 per cent of Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Tory voters opposed to the practice, as well as 82 per cent of Reform UK voters.

A recent Born in Bradford study found that almost half (46 per cent) of mothers from the Pakistani community in three inner-city Bradford wards were married to a first or second cousin.

Nearly two in five (39 per cent) of British Pakistanis and Bangladeshis believe cousin marriage should be legal, although 47 per cent of this group still say the practice should be prohibited.

A Bill to prohibit the marriage of first cousins is currently going through Parliament, supported by Tory MP Richard Holden, who claims the practice "destroys integration, women's rights and the health of those involved".

Responding to the guidance, he told the Mail: "Our NHS should stop taking the knee to damaging and oppressive cultural practices."

He added: "The Conservatives want to see an end to cousin marriage as a back door to immigration too, but Labour are deaf to these sensible demands.

"Sir Keir Starmer should stop running scared of the misogynistic community controllers and their quislings who appear in the form of cultural relativist obsessed sociology professors, and ban a practice the overwhelming majority, from every community in Britain, want to see ended for good."

The NHS guidance also argues that "marriage between first cousins, known as consanguineous marriage, has been practised for centuries across many cultures".

It states that "UK laws allowing first-cousin marriage date back to the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century: having broken with Rome in order to marry Anne Boleyn, Henry passed a new law that enabled him to marry her cousin, Catherine Howard".

GB News has reached out to the NHS for comment.