FLASHBACK: Muslims Can Claim Benefits For Several Wives, Say Ministers
Ministers have ruled that men in polygamous marriages can receive state handouts for each wife, including additional income support, even though bigamy is illegal in the UK.
A review of benefit rules for such marriages concluded in December that allowing husbands to claim for their additional wives remained the “best possible” option.
The decision will chiefly benefit Muslim men, as Islamic law allows them to have up to four wives.
Multi-marriages are recognised by the Government – provided the weddings took place in countries where the practice is legal. But critics last night attacked the decision as “completely unacceptable” and warned it could lead to demands for other changes in British laws.
Corin Taylor, of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “British taxpayers are paying a record amount of tax so the Government has a duty to make sure that every penny is spent properly.
“Polygamy is not something which British law allows and British taxpayers should not have to pay for extra benefits for second or third wives.”
Tory spokesman Chris Grayling said: “You are not allowed to have multiple marriages in the UK, so to have a situation where the benefits system is treating people in different ways is totally unacceptable and will serve to undermine confidence in the system.
By Gabriel Milland Political, Feb. 4, 2008, Express.co.uk
Ministers have ruled that men in polygamous marriages can receive state handouts for each wife, including additional income support, even though bigamy is illegal in the UK.
A review of benefit rules for such marriages concluded in December that allowing husbands to claim for their additional wives remained the “best possible” option.
The decision will chiefly benefit Muslim men, as Islamic law allows them to have up to four wives.
Multi-marriages are recognised by the Government – provided the weddings took place in countries where the practice is legal. But critics last night attacked the decision as “completely unacceptable” and warned it could lead to demands for other changes in British laws.
Corin Taylor, of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “British taxpayers are paying a record amount of tax so the Government has a duty to make sure that every penny is spent properly.
“Polygamy is not something which British law allows and British taxpayers should not have to pay for extra benefits for second or third wives.”
Tory spokesman Chris Grayling said: “You are not allowed to have multiple marriages in the UK, so to have a situation where the benefits system is treating people in different ways is totally unacceptable and will serve to undermine confidence in the system.
Read the full story: www.express.co.uk
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