Marriage age in Scotland

[Fidodidit]

Is there any talk about it being raised as it has been in England and Wales? I haven’t seen anything anywhere but not sure if I have just missed a conversation.

I wondered this too?
We really treat 16 year olds still as children these days. The vast majority of them are still at school and parents wouldn't go away and leave them home alone overnight.

Completely different from the past when majority of 16 year olds were at work and therefore in the adult world.
Very different scenarios. Maybe time to bring the law more in line with modern day thinking

It seems very odd if there is no conversation about it. It’s been framed in England as a progressive and protective action, the type of thing the Scot Gov seems to pride itself on. But then maybe Scottish 16 year olds are viewed as more mature hence the ability to vote in some elections.

There's no conversation about it , whether from a political perspective or a law reform perspective.

Sturgeon has to maintain the pretence that Scotland is different from England. and having extended the franchise to 16 year olds it's difficult to change the age for marriage.

I guess the number of 16 year olds getting married in Scotland may be an important factor in whether it’s a worthy conversation.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nicola-sturgeon-urged-to-shut-loophole-on-child-brides-wk6q2m6g0

33 in 2019. In 2016, in England and Wales, 179 people aged 16 to 17 entered marriage, out of nearly half a million who got married that year. I found, but have now lost , later figures for England and Wales showing around 140. So not huge figures in either jurisdiction.

However very roughly Scotland's population is a tenth of England and Wales so Scotland's rate per population is more than twice E&W's.

She wants the 16 year olds to vote in any independence ref as they are starry eyed about it (I was at that age, now against it).

The SNP and Greens appear to me to have an unhealthy interest in the sex lives of children, and confidence in their ability to make life changing decisions from a very young age, so I’d think they’ll keep the marriage age as it is.

Our Dear Leader has let 16 year olds have the vote. She is all for treating them as adults.

Plus, bringing us into line with the rest of the UK isn't her style, is it? Different for different's sake. Any sane person knows that 16 year old kids should NOT be getting married.

Can't believe the SNP have done so well in local elections - our roads are really appalling with potholes. Schools not great. Nothing great really.
I imagine that money is being put into the Central belt so that's who votes for them.

@KimikosNightmare I am being thick here, but how can those numbers be odd? Did 33 couples get married rather than 33 people, or am I missing something?

@Podgedodge . They might have married someone older than 16/17

Because it won't necessarily be the case both spouses are under 18. 33 people under 18 were married.

You clearly haven't been in Edinburgh recently. The roads are in a terrible state.

🤦‍♀️ Of course! Need my morning coffee! Thank you.

SNP can't argue that 16 year olds have enough intelligence and maturity to vote, but don't have enough intelligence and maturity to marry......

And they need the 16 and 17 year old votes to push independence.

Well if it's happening in England you can bet your life on it not being raised here.

NS has to be seen to do the opposite of England.

And that's a whole other can of worms, isn't it? Your just turned 16 year old daughter, currently sitting their Nat 5s, wants to marry a guy in his 40s. And Nicola thinks that's a smashing idea. Nothing wrong with it. Off you go. 🙄

Or your second generation immigrant daughter is coerced into marrying a much older cousin. And that's fine too because she was 16 last week and is therefore an adult.

Those of us who do actually have 16 year old children are well aware that they are NOT adults. In fact, my 19 year old isn't mature enough to be getting married either.

Well exactly. They realise that with maturity that there will be a realisation of how absurd separatism is so get 'em early.

There were plenty of SNP supporters talking about "coffin dodgers" in 2014- including my husband's charmless nephew, whose grandmother helped him buy a flat despite being one.

The English Act, I think, puts paid to Gretna Green marriages as a marriage conducted outwith England between persons normally domiciled in England won't be recognised in English law if the only purpose is to circumvent English law. I have no idea how that squares under Scots Law which doesn't need domicile for a valid marriage.

The domicile issue probably isn't that difficult to get round if a family is determined to arrange a marriage- plus Scotland doesn't require pre- marriage interviews with a registrar.

It's not just marriage, in Scotland 16 year olds can inherit without the need for a trust.

Traditionally Scots Law has always conferred autonomy earlier than English Law. I can't see this changing. It's not a conversation anyone is having.