A viral video circulating on Facebook and other platforms claims that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has legalised incest, allegedly allowing marriages between parents and children or between siblings “at the request of the Muslim lobby.” However, our investigation finds this claim to be false.
Social Media Posts
The video shared under captions such as “STARMER INCEST NOW LEGAL” shows a man speaking in Parliament while subtitles claim he warns Starmer about legalising incestuous marriages. The post asserts that the Prime Minister “legalised marriages between brothers and sisters, between parents and children.”
Fact Check
The Real Parliament Debate Was About First-Cousin Marriage
We traced to the origin of the video by using Reverse Image Search feature, The footage in the viral video is from the House of Commons debate on 18 June 2025 under the title “Marriage Between First Cousins”.
In this debate, Conservative MP Richard Holden proposed reconsidering the policy on marriages between first cousins, suggesting a possible ban. The government under Prime Minister Starmer opposed this ban, arguing it could unfairly stigmatize minority communities and raise concerns about civil liberties.
Importantly, the official record shows that the debate was exclusively about first-cousin marriages, not about incestuous relationships between siblings or parent-child relationships. At no point did anyone discuss legalizing incest. The viral video deliberately misrepresents this debate about first cousins to falsely suggest changes to incest laws. (Source)
No Change in UK Law
Under UK law, incestuous relationships are clearly illegal. The Marriage Act 1949 and the Sexual Sexual Offences Act 2003 make it a criminal offence to have sexual relations with a close relative. This includes parents, children, siblings, half-siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces. The Sexual Offences Act 1956 further reinforces these prohibitions.
These laws remain fully in effect today, they have not been changed or weakened in any way. For incest to become legal (as falsely claimed in the viral video), Parliament would need to pass major legislation repealing these longstanding laws, which has absolutely not happened. (Source)
The official list of “prohibited degrees of relationship” remains published on the UK government legislation site and has not been amended to allow any form of incestuous marriage.
Ongoing Criminal Penalties
Under UK law, sexual activity between close family members is still a serious crime according to Sections 64–66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. People who break this law can be sentenced to up to life in prison. This law covers relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters (including half-siblings), and other close relatives, even if both parties consent. These laws serve important purposes: they protect vulnerable family members from exploitation and address public health concerns related to genetic risks. UK courts have consistently enforced these laws, and the government has not proposed any changes or started any process to modify them. This confirms that incest remains firmly illegal throughout the United Kingdom.
Conclusion
The claim that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has legalised incest is categorically false. Our investigation reveals that the viral content deliberately misrepresents a parliamentary debate about first-cousin marriages to spread misinformation. The UK laws prohibiting incestuous relationships remain firmly in place, with severe criminal penalties still applicable under multiple acts of Parliament.
Title:False: Keir Starmer Did Not Legalize Incest in the UK
Fact Check By: Cielito WangResult: False
