For those Conservative Home readers who did not get chance to see this week's Dispatches, it is well worth 45 minutes of your time (it can be viewed here).
The subject was the often disastrous consequences of first cousin marriage. The statistics are shocking - children of first cousins are over ten times more likely to be born with recessive genetic disorders, and a third of children born in this country with such genetic disorders are British Pakistani. Yet despite this, cousin marriage is on the rise. Over 50% of British Pakistanis marry their first cousin, with 75% of ethnic Pakistanis doing so in Bradford.
This is clearly a hugely sensitive subject. However, it was disheartening to see 16 MPs in constituencies where this is a problem refuse to appear on the show. This was apparently out of a fear that taking a stand on this issue would lose votes, cause offence, or lead to accusations of racism. Ann Cryer, former Labour MP for Keighley and who has long campaigned on these issues, did appear - yet not a single representative asked from the current House thought it an issue worth discussing. How depressing an indictment that is on our elected officials.
First cousin marriage is exactly the sort of problem that politicians of substance should want to resolve - something of public importance that offers a clear possibility of affecting worthwhile change. Furthermore, there is no reason why topics such as this should be the preserve of Labour. This is both a public health and a moral issue - so it should be a Conservative issue as well. It would be encouraging to see someone within the party take it problem on.
