In February 2023, a law changing the legal age of marriage to 18 came into action in England and Wales.
Before, marriage was legal in all parts of the UK at the ages of 16 and 17 with parental consent, while 18 was the legal age to marry without parental consent.
This new law – The Marriage and Civil Partnership Act – does not apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland, where the legal minimum age for marriage remains at 16.
It is thought the new law in England and Wales will help vulnerable individuals, particularly young, vulnerable women from entering forced marriages.
The law endeavours to prevent arranging marriages for children as well, meaning it covers marriages for minors which are not formed through any force.
Anyone found to have attempted to enforce the marriage of a minor in England and Wales will now face a minimum of seven years in prison.
It has since raised questions about protection of girls in Scotland, as well as Holyrood’s stance on this move.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, a candidate in the SNP leadership race, believes that it is not a “significant priority” to change the legal marriage age.
He went on to say that there are enough measures to safeguard children from the potential manipulation of minors that Westminster is claiming to protect against.
Scottish law currently has a Forced Marriage Protection Order, with which violators can spend up to two years in jail, and a fine up to £10,000.
Recent polling in Scotland has shown that over sixty per cent of residents would support raising the legal marriage age to 18.
“Big Ben and Houses of Parliament” by Andrew from Sydney is licensed under CC BY 2.0.