Law and religion round-up – 13th December

Marriage law, pay inequality, street preaching, charity funding, Trinity Western again – and a little jazz… 

Marriage Registration Certificates

On Monday there was a Westminster Hall debate on marriage certification introduced by Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden) (Con), the Second Church Estates Commissioner. In brief, she was arguing for reform of the law in England and Wales to include mothers’ names on marriage certificates and for the adoption of the marriage schedule system currently used for marriage and civil partnership registration in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a single electronic register instead of the current marriage register books. Replying, Home Office minister Richard Harrington (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Refugees) conceded that the system needed reform but thought that piecemeal amendment was not enough: it was a complex issue and the Government wanted a comprehensive solution. We noted the debate here.

“Sham marriage” and the burden of proof

And while we’re on the subject of marriage, Continue reading