The UK Government has announced that it will finally legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales, but only as part of wider marriage reform on which it has announced further consultation. After 12 years of humanist marriages being under review, Humanists UK has welcomed the Government finally committing to legally recognise humanist marriages but has expressed its dismay at yet another consultation – the fourth, after over a decade of almost constant review – and has called on the Government to give legal recognition to humanist weddings without further delay, as it has the power to do by at least using its order-making powers to fast-track legal recognition on an interim basis.
What is a humanist wedding?
A humanist wedding is a non-religious ceremony that is completely personal to the couple and conducted by a humanist celebrant. It differs from a civil wedding in that it is entirely hand-crafted and reflective of the humanist beliefs and values of the couple, conducted by a celebrant who shares their beliefs and values.
Humanists UK is calling on the UK Government to fast-track legal recognition of humanist marriages in order to end years of delay.
This is because a new Bill will take years to come into effect and also due to the pressing human rights need to grant legal recognition to humanist marriages following the High Court stating that the current law is ‘discriminatory’ in 2020.
There is precedent for this to take place following how Scotland legally recognised humanist marriages in 2005 on an interim basis before being put on a legal footing in 2014; how Northern Ireland did the same in 2018, with legislation pending; and how the UK Government fast- tracked outdoor civil marriage recognition in 2021. This approach would be simple and easy to achieve as the Government already has the power to grant legal recognition via Order.
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented:
‘We welcome the Government’s commitment to legally recognise humanist marriages, but are deeply concerned this much-needed step is still some time away awaiting further consultation.
‘Humanist marriages have been subjected to endless reviews for the last decade and counting. Couples should not have to wait any longer. We are calling on the Government to fast-track legal recognition of humanist marriages (which has already been consulted on) on an interim basis, while any future Bill progresses through the UK Parliament.’
Sarah Edwards MP commented:
‘I welcome the Ministry of Justice’s announcement today that they intend to recognise Humanist marriages in England and Wales, finally aligning the law with the values of the people it serves. This was an issue I was proud to bring to Parliament in a Westminster Hall debate I chaired alongside my colleagues Lizzi Collinge MP and Freddie van Mierlo MP earlier this year.
‘The recognition of Humanist marriages restores equity in marriage, equity first established by the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act of 2013, and reaffirmed in the 2020 High Court ruling that found it discriminatory for the Government not to legislate for humanist marriage. This is a profound moment of progress. One that recognises the right of couples to a ceremony that truly reflects their values, their beliefs, and their relationship. It is also a moment of fairness and opportunity, just as in Scotland, where legal recognition of Humanist marriages has boosted the number of weddings, strengthened local economies, and supported small businesses, the same benefits can now be realised here.
‘By ending this long-standing campaign for equity in marriage, thousands of couples will now have the right to see their deeply meaningful Humanist weddings legally recognised in every part of the UK.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Acting Director of Public Affairs and Policy Karen Wright at press@humanists.uk or phone 07305932794.
Legal recognition of humanist marriages in local jurisdictions
Humanist marriages gained legal recognition in Scotland in 2005, where since 2022 more humanist weddings have been conducted each year than religious marriages of all kinds combined. They also gained legal recognition in the Republic of Ireland in 2012; in Northern Ireland in 2018, following a Court of Appeal ruling that concluded that a failure to do so would be a breach of human rights and now make up 1 in 7 marriages there; in Jersey in 2019; and in Guernsey in 2021.
In England and Wales, however, humanist couples must have an unwanted additional civil ceremony for their marriage to be legally recognised. A change in law has been under constant Government review since 2013. The Marriage Act gave the Government the power to enact legal recognition of humanist marriages by Order – which would take as little time as 90 minutes in each the House of Commons and House of Lords. But in the years since, the Government has not done this. Instead the matter has been reviewed three times, most recently by the Law Commission, which published its report in July 2022. The previous Government did not issue its response before the General Election was called.
Labour supported legal recognition of humanist marriages by Order since 2014 while in opposition. But now in power, the new government said it needed more time to set out a position while it considered the Law Commission’s proposals. It has now responded and said it will consult on its proposals in 2026 before introducing legislation to reform marriage law when parliamentary time allows.
Read the Law Commission’s review on Marriage Law and the Government’s response to it.
Read more about our work on humanist marriages.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.