David Warburton, Member of Parliament for Somerton and Frome, who last week was subject to a vote of no confidence from Frome Town Council HERE has sent out a media release welcoming 18 as the new legal age of marriage in England and Wales, as part of the government's continued commitment to protect our children from harm, and tackle violence against women and girls.

The rise follows The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, coming into force yesterday (27 February). It means that 16- and 17-year-olds will no longer be allowed to marry or enter a civil partnership, even if parental consent is granted.

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, delivers a new criminal offence to cause a child to marry, with up to 7 years in prison – including forced marriages in non-legally binding ceremonies.

David Warburton MP is confident that the change delivers better protection for vulnerable children and will positively contribute to cracking down on forced marriages which can cause lifelong damage on a child.

David Warburton said: "This is an enormous step in the right direction to protecting our children from the absolutely devastating and long-lasting impacts of forced marriages".

"The rise in the legal age of marriage from sixteen to eighteen is proof in the pudding that this government continues to work hard to tackle violence against women and girls".

"As I am sure many of my constituents in Somerton and Frome will agree, sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds primary focus must be their education, and not settling down into a marriage. These years are incredibly important to their development and future success, I applaud the government's ongoing hard work to set the priorities right".

Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Somerton and Frome said following the vote of no confidence in Frome Town Hall "David Warburton is still fighting for his political survival rather than for the people of Somerton and Frome. In addition to the recent allegations he remains under a separate ongoing investigation after serious and alarming allegations about his behaviour.

"Local people are telling me they want a hardworking constituency MP who is fully focused on the cost of living crisis and dangerously high ambulance wait times. That is simply not the case right now. "This vote of no confidence proves that there is a growing sense right across the constituency that Somerton and Frome is being taken for granted and that we need a new voice in Parliament to speak up for us. This can only be done through a hardworking local champion. "The people of Somerton and Frome deserve better than an MP missing in action. They deserve a strong voice in Westminster, an MP who will stand up for local communities."