A proposal from Caroline Lucas to add the names of mothers as well as fathers of the bride and groom to marriage certificates has received the backing of scores of MPs.
The Brighton Pavilion MP put forward the idea in an early day motion in Parliament on Wednesday 4 June – and it has now been signed by 112 MPs, making it the most signed this year.
To date, Hove MP Mike Weatherley has signed, but not Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby.
Caroline said: “It beggars belief that current regulations mean it’s still the case that a marriage certificate must include details of the father but not the mother of the bride and groom.
“Our law should not perpetuate the grossly outdated message that marriage should be seen as a business transaction between the father of the bride and the father of the groom.
“I call on the Home Secretary to change this law without delay and allow people to recognise the importance of mothers on their marriage certificates.”
She was inspired to table the motion by a petition created by Ailsha Burmkimsher Sadler, which has now been signed by more than 70,000 people – almost double the amount who had signed when the motion was first put forward.
