Latest news with #FabianHamilton
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Predatory marriages could be banned after pensioners ‘groomed' for inheritance payouts
Ministers are considering reforming marriage rules to stop elderly people from being preyed on and their families disinherited. So-called 'predatory marriages' – which lawyers claim are on the rise – see the elderly and vulnerable groomed into marriages they may not properly understand. Current rules mean that pre-existing wills are invalidated when a person marries, meaning that spouses, who can inherit without paying any death duties, stand to get everything under intestacy laws. But a major report from the Law Commission, published last week, recommended that wills should no longer be discarded when a person marries. In a letter to Sarah Sackman, a justice minister, and Fabian Hamilton, a Labour MP, raised the case of Joan Blass, a 91-year-old woman suffering from dementia who married a younger man in a 'secret' wedding. She was widowed in 2008 but towards the end of 2011 struck up a conversation with the man, who was standing at the end of her garden. Within a month, he had moved into her spare bedroom. The marriage – made without the knowledge of Ms Blass's family – meant that when she died in 2016, she was buried in an unmarked grave, against her wishes, and 'stripped of all her assets and money'. Her husband claimed she did have the capacity to marry him and that it was a 'loving and caring' relationship, the i newspaper reported. Mr Hamilton wrote on X: 'The Wills Act hasn't been updated since 1837. Marriage should never revoke a previous will. 'The Law Commission has put forward decisive recommendations. I have written to the justice minister calling on the Government to act on them.' The Labour MP put forward a Private Members' Bill in 2018 proposing a change in the law, which was supported by MPs including Rachel Reeves and Sir Ed Davey. Mr Hamilton said he had been contacted by several families who had experienced 'predatory marriages', demonstrating the scale of the issue. Daniel Edwards, a partner at law firm Browne Jacobson, said many people were unaware of the rule, and that it 'can seem a little hard to justify, given changes in society since the rule came about.' Mr Edwards added: 'It is also one that can be open to abuse; in cases of 'predatory marriage' a will – that perhaps leaves everything to the testator's children – would in all likelihood be revoked by a marriage. 'While Law Commission reports can sometimes take years to be considered and debated in Parliament, the fact we have already seen the Government's response suggests there is motivation and intention to bring forward changes in the not-too-distant future.' Ms Sackman said in response to the recommendations: 'Marriage should no longer automatically revoke a will – this recommendation is designed to address the problem of 'predatory marriages' where vulnerable people are befriended, and the effect of the marriage is to disinherit families and others from any will they have made.' The Law Commission began looking into wills in 2016, before pausing the research in 2019 to focus on marriages at the Government's request. It published the results of two public consultations and draft legislation earlier this month. Other recommendations from the review included allowing children to make wills, making electronic wills valid and the recognition of more informal wills. The commission also proposed abolishing rules which stop second spouses, stepchildren and divorced partners from challenging mutual wills under the Inheritance Act 1975. Ms Sackman added: 'The reforms proposed by the Law Commission are significant and wide-ranging. They deserve detailed consideration. 'The Government recognises that the current law is outdated, and we must embrace change, but the guiding principle in doing so will be to ensure that reform does not compromise existing freedoms or protecting the elderly and vulnerable in society from undue influence.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Predatory marriages could be banned after pensioners ‘groomed' for inheritance payouts
Ministers are considering reforming marriage rules to stop elderly people from being preyed on and their families disinherited. So-called 'predatory marriages' – which lawyers claim are on the rise – see the elderly and vulnerable groomed into marriages they may not properly understand. Current rules mean that pre-existing wills are invalidated when a person marries, meaning that spouses, who can inherit without paying any death duties, stand to get everything under intestacy laws. But a major report from the Law Commission, published last week, recommended that wills should no longer be discarded when a person marries. In a letter to Sarah Sackman, a justice minister, and Fabian Hamilton, a Labour MP, raised the case of Joan Blass, a 91-year-old woman suffering from dementia who married a younger man in a 'secret' wedding. She was widowed in 2008 but towards the end of 2011 struck up a conversation with the man, who was standing at the end of her garden. Within a month, he had moved into her spare bedroom. The marriage – made without the knowledge of Ms Blass's family – meant that when she died in 2016, she was buried in an unmarked grave, against her wishes, and 'stripped of all her assets and money'. Her husband claimed she did have the capacity to marry him and that it was a 'loving and caring' relationship, the i newspaper reported. Mr Hamilton wrote on X: 'The Wills Act hasn't been updated since 1837. Marriage should never revoke a previous will. 'The Law Commission has put forward decisive recommendations. I have written to the justice minister calling on the Government to act on them.' Current rules 'hard to justify' The Labour MP put forward a Private Members' Bill in 2018 proposing a change in the law, which was supported by MPs including Rachel Reeves and Sir Ed Davey. Mr Hamilton said he had been contacted by several families who had experienced 'predatory marriages', demonstrating the scale of the issue. Daniel Edwards, a partner at law firm Browne Jacobson, said many people were unaware of the rule, and that it 'can seem a little hard to justify, given changes in society since the rule came about.' Mr Edwards added: 'It is also one that can be open to abuse; in cases of 'predatory marriage' a will – that perhaps leaves everything to the testator's children – would in all likelihood be revoked by a marriage. 'While Law Commission reports can sometimes take years to be considered and debated in Parliament, the fact we have already seen the Government's response suggests there is motivation and intention to bring forward changes in the not-too-distant future.' Government 'recognises current law is outdated' Ms Sackman said in response to the recommendations: 'Marriage should no longer automatically revoke a will – this recommendation is designed to address the problem of 'predatory marriages' where vulnerable people are befriended, and the effect of the marriage is to disinherit families and others from any will they have made.' The Law Commission began looking into wills in 2016, before pausing the research in 2019 to focus on marriages at the Government's request. It published the results of two public consultations and draft legislation earlier this month. Other recommendations from the review included allowing children to make wills, making electronic wills valid and the recognition of more informal wills. The commission also proposed abolishing rules which stop second spouses, stepchildren and divorced partners from challenging mutual wills under the Inheritance Act 1975. Ms Sackman added: 'The reforms proposed by the Law Commission are significant and wide-ranging. They deserve detailed consideration. 'The Government recognises that the current law is outdated, and we must embrace change, but the guiding principle in doing so will be to ensure that reform does not compromise existing freedoms or protecting the elderly and vulnerable in society from undue influence.'
Arab News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
British lawmakers praise Jordan's role in regional peace efforts
DUBAI: British lawmakers have applauded Jordan's role in maintaining regional stability and providing aid to the Gaza Strip. The comments came in an interview with the Jordan News Agency's correspondent in London. The visit was at the invitation of the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and was headed by MP Zuhair Khashman of the Jordanian delegation. British politicians stressed the value of Jordanian-British relations and the necessity of their strategic partnership. 'Jordan plays an important role in consolidating stability in the Middle East,' said MP Fabian Hamilton, chairman of the BGIPU. Hamilton added that there were three key reasons for its role in helping to stabilize the Middle East: its vital geographical location, its political stability, and the leadership of King Abdullah II. Baroness Gloria Hooper, a member of the House of Lords, said a two-state solution in the region was essential to securing lasting peace. She also made note of the UK's public opinion on the war in Gaza. She added: 'Despite growing pressure in Parliament on the British government to take more measures to stop the Israeli war on Gaza, we need to increase and redouble these efforts.' MP Alistair Carmichael, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Jordan Group, said: 'The situation in Gaza is continuously deteriorating, making support for Jordanian humanitarian efforts a top priority.' MP Bambos Charalambous said that 'the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza cannot be dealt with by individual efforts or through a single country alone, but through broad international partnerships.'
Telegraph
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Taxpayers must fund bikes for refugees and pensioners, MPs tell Labour
Taxpayers should fund bikes for refugees and pensioners, a group of MPs has told Labour. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking has called on the Government to 'reduce the financial barriers' which stop people getting on two wheels. The bizarre campaign wants the taxpayer-funded Cycle to Work scheme to be revised so that it caters to 'those who most need financial assistance' including retired households, refugees and those on low incomes. Under its current guise, employers offer staff the chance to buy a bike and accessories via salary sacrifice. The tax perk – which has been uncapped for the past six years – means employees reduce their income tax bills and National Insurance contributions, and get their hands on an expensive new bike. Critics argue the tax breaks only benefit higher earners, while those on low incomes are priced out of affording a bike on their own accord. Labour MP Fabian Hamilton, chairman of the parliamentary group, said Cycle to Work has 'done a great deal of good', but it now needs reshaping. He said: 'It mainly serves those in stable employment and brings about more savings to higher earners. 'What we need is a reformed approach that opens up the scheme to support people on lower incomes, freelance workers, disabled people who require adapted expensive cycles, and pensioners who aren't in work but could benefit greatly from the health benefits of cycling.' A report released by the parliamentary group suggests refugees should also benefit from a widened cycle support scheme. It reads: 'A decent cycle costs money – an e-cycle costs more, and adapted cycles cost more still. 'For the large proportions of the population who cannot store cycles inside their homes, the cost of secure storage can be prohibitive, which puts cycling out of reach for those on the lowest incomes, including refugees. Yet this is the group that could often benefit most from it.' It hails 'highly effective' Welcome Wheels projects which support refugees and asylum seekers with free second-hand bikes. The group of MPs has also urged the Government to subsidise e-bikes for low-income households in rural areas. Incentives should be brought in 'where distances can make using an unpowered cycle impractical', the report states. E-bike subsidies are relatively common in Europe, but France scrapped its scheme in February. In 2023 alone, the French state paid out €40m (£33.3bn) in subsidies, with grants ranging from €150 to €2,000. The parliamentary working group has also urged the Government to ramp up its efforts to combat pavement parking and cap the cost of renting a cycle hangar space. The group said the cost of a hangar space should not exceed a sixth of the cheapest parking permit in the same area. It also wants the Cycle to Work scheme to undergo a rebrand. Mr Hamilton said: 'The current name and structure no longer reflect the way people live and work. Many do not commute to a traditional workplace, and cycling has far wider benefits than just getting to the office. 'A Cycle for Health scheme could deliver savings to society by easing pressure on the NHS and improving public health. A fairer scheme focused on health and inclusion would better serve the public good.'
