• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

NHS removes controversial report on ‘benefits’ of first-cousin marriage after fierce public backlash in UK

by September 29, 2025
written by September 29, 2025

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has come under fire for potentially prioritizing cultural sensitivity over significant health concerns after it published a report last week questioning a major issue of public debate — should first-cousin marriages be banned?

Debate over the issue heightened earlier this year after U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would not ban the practice outright, despite known risks to future generations, as children born from first cousins are at increased risk for diseases like sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis.

Starmer, along with members of his Labour government, has argued that education should be prioritized instead of overreaching government mandates.

The article, which was posted to the NHS’s Genomics Education Program’s website and titled, ‘Should the UK government ban first-cousin marriage,’ had been removed by Monday morning, and Fox News Digital could not gain direct access to the report, nor did the NHS immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions. 

According to U.K.-based media outlets, the article caused some uproar after it suggested there were certain ‘benefits’ to first-cousin marriages, including ‘stronger extended family support systems and economic advantages,’ the Telegraph reported. 

The NHS report also noted that inter-family marriages have ‘long been the subject of scientific discussion’ due to the increased risk of inherited diseases, and that first-cousin marriages have been legal in the U.K. since the 1500s, when King Henry VIII married Catherine Howard, his ex-wife’s cousin.

First cousin marriages are also not federally banned in the U.S., where the practice is still permitted in 20 states.

The article also noted that there are risks of genetic disorders related to other external factors like alcohol use during pregnancy and smoking. The age of the parents can also impact certain disorders. 

The report pointed out that ‘none of [these factors] are banned in the U.K.’

‘Genetic counseling, awareness-raising initiatives and public health campaigns are all important tools to help families make informed decisions without stigmatizing certain communities and cultural traditions,’ the article added, according to the Telegraph.

The article, first posted last week, drew rebuke from conservative Tories like Member of Parliament Richard Holden, who accused the Labour government, headed by Starmer, of ‘taking the knee to damaging and oppressive cultural practices.’

‘The Conservatives want to see an end to cousin marriage as a backdoor to immigration too, but Labour are deaf to these sensible demands,’ he told the Daily Mail.

Similarly, Conservative Member of Parliament Claire Coutinho took to X on Monday to say, ‘The NHS puts conditions on IVF by age, BMI and history of conception. The NHS tells you (a lot) not to smoke or drink during pregnancy. But the NHS won’t say a word against cousin marriage.’

The Daily Mail report also noted that the NHS article said in first-cousin marriages the increased risk of being born with a genetic condition was ‘small.’

‘In the general population, a child’s chance of being born with a genetic condition is around two to three percent; this increases to four to six percent in children of first cousins. Hence, most children of first cousins are healthy,’ the article said, according to the Daily Mail.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, who oversees the NHS, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions for this report.

Proponents of the ban in the U.K. tend to be conservative Tories, while Labor officials have argued the ban insensitively targets certain cultures, like British Pakistanis, where in-family marriages are more common. 

Starmer’s cabinet office directed Fox News Digital’s questions to the Department of Health and Social Care, who did not immediately provide comment for this report. 

Holden also could not be immediately reached for this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Dems not budging on government shutdown demands ahead of high-stakes Trump meeting, Jeffries suggests
next post
Trump unveils 20-point plan to secure peace in Gaza, including granting some Hamas members ‘amnesty’

related articles

Vance visits church where Christians believe Jesus was...

October 23, 2025

New poll in key showdown for Virginia governor...

October 23, 2025

Americans could face airport chaos if Dems don’t...

October 23, 2025

Inside Trump’s ultimatum that forced Netanyahu to the...

October 23, 2025

Vance rebukes Israel on ‘very stupid’ vote to...

October 23, 2025

Top Republican slams Katherine Clark for admitting suffering...

October 23, 2025

Vance calls Psaki comments about wife Usha ‘disgraceful’

October 23, 2025

Trump yet to endorse in VA governor’s race...

October 23, 2025

DAVID MARCUS: Trump’s ballroom is no vanity project,...

October 23, 2025

Examining the next threat from Communist China: Our...

October 23, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Long CBRE: CBRE Group Stock Poised for Breakout, Volatility Compression After Good Earnings Suggests Bullish Continuation

    August 12, 2024
  • Trump nominates Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as secretary of labor

    November 23, 2024
  • Kamala Harris vetting list of possible running mates with 4 standouts: report

    July 25, 2024
  • Riot Platforms stock has a 71% upside: analyst

    August 1, 2024
  • China sentences journalist for espionage after he was detained while eating with Japanese diplomat

    December 1, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 4

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (6,506)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (941)

Latest Posts

  • How Trump-blocking judges managed to get past Senate judiciary hawks

    March 29, 2025
  • Schumer-linked PAC accuses senator of stock ‘greed,’ but financial disclosure contradicts claim

    September 9, 2025
  • How is a political appointee different from a career federal employee?

    February 18, 2025

Recent Posts

  • ‘Enough is enough’: New report warns top US companies at risk of hefty fines from possible China sanctions

    January 14, 2025
  • Trump envoy Witkoff seeking ‘extension’ of Phase 1 of Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, to head back to Middle East

    February 23, 2025
  • Netanyahu gifts Fetterman a silver-plated beeper after he praised Israel’s Lebanon pager operation

    March 20, 2025

Editor’s Pick

  • Inside Epstein’s infamous ‘birthday book’: Clinton’s note, poolside candids and bizarre animal pics

    September 9, 2025
  • Microsoft confirms performance-based job cuts across departments

    January 10, 2025
  • DJT shares jump after Trump Media rolls out TV streaming plan

    August 4, 2024
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock