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Momentum grows for marriage certificate campaign

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Friday, 11 July, 2014
  • Local News
A Chandler's Ford lady is spearheading a growing campaign to get mothers' names included on marriage certificates in England and Wales. Marriage registers used today haven't changed since civil marriage was introduced in 1837.

Ailsa Burkimsher Sadler, 37, a chartered accountant, has now attracted over 68,000 signatures to her petition, which is now being discussed, with the support of her MP Steve Brine, with Home Secretary Theresa May and Culture Secretary Sajid Javid.

Ailsa, who appeared on the BBC Sunday Politics Show with Steve Brine on Sunday 13th July to highlight the campaign, said: "This is 2014. Marriage should not be seen as a business transaction between the father of the bride and the father of the groom. There is space for the name of the father of the bride and the father of the groom and their occupations. On civil partnership certificates there is space for mothers. On Scottish and Northern Irish marriage certificates there are spaces for mothers."

Steve Brine said: "We've been in touch on the issue for some time now so I was more than happy to push this within government and see what the appetite is for change and was pleasantly surprised to hear this is something Ministers across a number of Whitehall departments are actively considering. Changing the law of this country is not easy and it shouldn't be but I think this is a campaign that now has momentum.

"I don't think there is anything sinister here or a deliberate discrimination, it is just a piece of old-fashioned legislation which needs updating and I look forward to doing what I can to do just that in Parliament."

Pictured; Steve Brine prepares for the show, with BBC South Political Correspondent Peter Henley

 

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You can sign the petition here

 

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