NHS Guidance on Cousin Marriage Removed After Backlash

NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme published guidance saying first-cousin marriage—common in some communities such as British Pakistani families—can bring stronger extended-family support and economic advantages while also noting increased risks of genetic and developmental conditions. The guidance advocated genetic counselling, awareness campaigns and other public-health measures rather than a ban to avoid stigmatizing communities, but it has been taken down and prompted Health Secretary Wes Streeting to demand an apology. Research including the Born in Bradford study showed children of first-cousin unions have higher rates of speech and developmental problems, more GP visits and roughly double the risk of congenital anomalies (about 3% to 6%), contributing a substantial share of genetic disorders in affected cohorts. Conservative MPs and campaigners said cousin marriage harms women and strains NHS resources and have proposed legislation to ban the practice. Supporters of the guidance argued prohibition would stigmatise communities, while ministers face questions about why the material was published and then removed.