Humanists UK responds to the Law Commission’s weddings law project

Humanists UK has called on the Government to give legal recognition to humanist weddings in England and Wales, following a report published today by the Law Commission.

In the final report of its review of weddings law in England and Wales, the Commission has set out plans for general reform of marriage law. These plans, if accepted by the Government, would take some years to implement, but Humanists UK has called on the Government to take action on humanist marriages immediately.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 allowed the Government to recognise humanist marriages by laying an Order (simple secondary legislation that does not require an Act of Parliament). However, it has yet to do so and the Law Commission’s report published today is the third review of humanist marriages since this Act was passed nine years ago.

Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson, said:

‘Fundamental marriage reform, if it even happens, may take many years. The good news is that the Government doesn’t have to wait to give legal recognition to humanist marriages. It can do so now, without delay – and it should.

‘The Marriage Act 2013 allows the Government to legally recognise humanist marriages without needing a new Bill. We urge the Government to enact this now, and give couples in England and Wales the freedom to choose a marriage that aligns with their beliefs and values.

‘For thousands of couples it is hugely frustrating that something as uncontroversial as legal recognition for humanist marriages has been delayed for almost a decade.’

Today’s report is the culmination of a decade of government reviews into humanist marriages. In 2020, the High Court ruled that their legal recognition must follow on from the end of this project, when it found that the lack of legal recognition for humanist marriages in England and Wales is discriminatory. It ruled that the Government could wait for the Law Commission’s project to conclude before legally recognising humanist marriages, but that it had to resolve this discrimination afterwards. Humanists UK has expressed its concern about the prospect of ongoing delays if the Government waits to do humanist marriages as part of a general reform of marriage law – which may never happen and is calling on the Government to use its existing powers to legally recognise humanist marriages now, even if this only proves to be an interim measure.

Lincolnshire-based couple Kate Harrison and Christopher Sanderson, lead claimants in the 2020 High Court case, said:

‘Though the High Court ruled largely in our favour, it was a huge disappointment to be made to wait a further two years for the Law Commission to report. For more than a decade, we’ve postponed our wedding day. We’re waiting for a legally recognised ceremony that reflects who we are as committed humanists to become an option. We hope that the Government will now act immediately to recognise humanist marriages, and in doing so bring joy and happiness to thousands of couples like us.’

Sheffield-based humanist couple Anna Cooper and Sam Thomas said: 

‘As humanists, it was obvious to us that our wedding ceremony should reflect not only our most strongly-held beliefs and values, but who we are as a couple. We’ve spent hours working with our humanist celebrant to carefully handcraft a ceremony that is unique and special to us. Why this can’t be the one that is recognised in the eyes of the law instead of a short impersonal ceremony at the registry office is hugely frustrating. Now that today’s announcement has cleared the way for action on humanist marriages, we sincerely hope the law will change on this issue before we tie the knot next year.’