Scottish councillor claims public sector spending cuts could lead to unintentional incestuous marriages

Incestuous marriages could increase in Scotland because of public sector cuts, a councillor has claimed. Kenneth Gunn spoke out after Scottish Borders Council decided to save £50,000 by closing down several register offices where marriage notices, known as banns, are displayed.

He said doing away with posting banns could result in siblings marrying without realising. The Selkirkshire councillor said: “The proclamation of banns is not merely a ritual from the Dark Ages but a necessary and vital part of the census services. In these days of broken marriages and extended families, surely it is even more important?


Photo from here.

“I am aware in my own ward of brothers sitting beside sisters they do not know in primary school. These youngsters will move on to secondary school, maybe still ignorant of their own relations. It isn’t going to be too long before we have a union which could produce offspring if we do not play by the well-founded rules.”

The council have closed four register offices in the region – Selkirk, Jedburgh, Lauder and Newcastleton. Gunn added: “At a time when the Home Office have no idea how many legal or illegal immigrants are in this country, surely this is not the time to be cutting back so severely on a service which has been around since medieval times?”