FOLLOWING a successful cross-party campaign supported by Redditch MP Rachel Maclean, the Home Office is expected to sign off plans to include mothers’ details on marriage certificates.
Currently, only the names and occupations of the fathers of the bride and groom are recorded on official marriage documents.
This could now be set to change with the details of the couple’s mothers set to appear too as part of the modernisation of the marriage register which will see the creation of a digital records system.
This radical overhaul of the marriage registration process was made possible because of Meriden MP Dame Caroline Spelman Marriage Registration (No.2 Bill).
The new digital record system will not only make the process of marriage less vulnerable to fraud, but it could also save the taxpayer £30million in costs over a 10-year period.
Mrs Maclean said: “I am absolutely delighted the Home Office has indicated it will back the Marriage Registration Bill.
“This is great news for all mums as it now means our names will finally be included on marriage certificates when our children get married – and if any of my children decide to get married it will be wonderful to be able to sign their marriage certificates as their mum.
“We must of course always stay focused on the big issues in front of us, such as building a Britain fit for the future and getting a good Brexit deal, but where there are opportunities to make society fairer and to tackle injustices, we must take those opportunities whenever we can.”
