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WATCH: Lee Anderson lashes out on air after GB News guest REFUSES to support cousin marriage ban
Jan 17, 2026
Watch the moment Lee Anderson was left flabbergasted after a GB News guest refused to support a ban on cousin marriage.Political commentator Fahima Mohamed insisted the argument to outlaw first-cousin marriage in the interest of children's health was "inconsistent". She argued there are greater matters to address when it comes to risks to children instead of "demonising" groups, citing FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) as an example.But Lee accused his guest of deploying "what-about-ery" in the debate. Discussion over the controversial practice has been reignited after Labour was accused of supporting the practice when MPs were told to block the legislation, tabled by Tory MP Richard Holden.WATCH THE FULL FIERY DEBATE ABOVE
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0:00
Hema, Mike, and Mike, Porky, just had to separate them in the break
0:04
It's getting a little bit feisty there. Mike's still got his injured knee. I think you're sort of preying on that, aren't you, Fema
0:09
He went for his weak spot. Yeah, absolutely. But the debate today is
0:14
should the marriage of first cousins be banned, Mike? Well, I think it should, personally
0:21
I mean, the figures are that the possibility of a genetic problem
0:26
with your child is between 2% and 3% in what I'd call the population as a whole
0:34
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it goes up to 4% to 6% if you have a first cousin marriage
0:39
So it doubles. Doubles, in fact, yeah. Now, my view is people say, well, that's still a small figure
0:44
No. If it's only a 1% chance of an increased possibility of some genetic problem
0:51
basically because when you go up the family pyramid like that, it means they've both got the same grandparents
0:56
then it shouldn't be allowed because it's a risk that doesn't need to be taken
1:01
Ahima? You know, if we're talking about risks, right, and we want to ban something
1:07
then we should really be consistent. And we're talking about children's health
1:11
Now, there are more statistics to show that, you know, mothers that are drinking alcohol and they have FASD
1:18
which is a neurodiversity condition. I know what it is. As well as just for the public and also for people..
1:23
That's a different problem altogether. But it's the same thing. No, but we're talking about a specific problem that could be sorted and changed
1:31
We're not going to say... That is exactly the same thing by your logic. No, no, it's not, because you're going on to another problem
1:37
and we're discussing marriage between cousins. But why would you... I'm talking about children's health
1:42
What are you doing, Thayma? You're using a bit of whatabout reaction. Not really I saying that you guys are not consistent when it comes to certain things and even the Church of England has not banned first cousin marriages okay So in this country we do not have a Christian state
1:56
We do not have anything when it comes to Christian laws, where it's actually even in our parliament
2:01
And when it comes to certain communities, I feel that they are targeted, even though they are not the priority on the NHS
2:07
The priority are people that are maybe at elderly age, and we need more awareness and education for people to understand that
2:13
You've not really answered the question, have you, Fahima? You've dodged the question. You're going to have a ban, have it collectively for all of the kind of issues
2:20
That's why I raised that. But we are focusing on this one issue. Why would you want to focus on one when there's children's health
2:25
Because it's very important, because it means that people who are involved in that relationship
2:30
have a greater chance of something happening to them. So it's no good saying, oh, well, it happens there, it happens there
2:37
Look at this one. And by the way, citing the Church of England as, you know, even the Church of England
2:41
I'm telling you, the Church of England get an awful lot of things wrong. I wouldn't use them as a marker for things that are right under any circumstances, even if I'm a Christian
2:49
But the thing is, you're still not understanding your logic. If you are worrying about public health for children, then it should be on all kind of, you know, things, not just because of marriage
3:03
But we're looking at this. But why is it always picking on a... Because you know it relates to a specific community
3:09
Who? Which community? The Pakistani community. I'm not from that community. I would never in my family even, you know
3:16
endorse this kind of cousin marriage. But I want things to be fair and consistent
3:21
And if you want to ban it, like I said, have a ban throughout the spectrum. Should it be banned for Ema
3:25
I don't think it should be banned because I feel that if you are given education and it's a public health issue
3:32
and if there were genetic testing beforehand, because not all cousin marriages actually end up in that way it depends on your you know your DNA It depends on how closely related you are But why take risk Of course well why take the risk when you even pregnant and drinking or smoking or even at an elderly age
3:49
It's the same thing. It's not the same thing. It's education. It's not the same thing because this is avoidable
3:55
This is completely avoidable. So is the risk. If you do not marry your cousin, then you are not putting yourselves in a position where something could happen to your child at a greater risk than other circumstances
4:06
Not all people that marry their cousins have that. We've had, you know, even the monarchy that's had that
4:11
There's nothing that's been wrong. It's just, you know, something I think that needs to have education
4:16
and more of a public health interest than banning. I guess if you went into any pubs and clubs up and down the country
4:23
and spoke to some real people in the real world, they would say this is inbreeding
4:27
They would? Yes, I suppose they would, and that's not a term we use these days
4:32
But, to be honest, it doesn't matter what you call it. if you look at scientifically what the result of it is
4:38
that's what we should be worrying about. And also, by the way, we've all got cousins
4:43
I can't imagine for a moment having been brought up and played with my cousins on the beach, you know, at Rill and all that
4:50
suddenly being told, by the way, we've had a very good idea, you should marry your female cousin
4:55
I mean, that's something I could never accept. No-one's saying that it happens as in they're being told
5:01
You can't tell who, you know, the government doesn't say who needs to get married and who they should or shouldn't marry either
5:06
No, but even the option, to me, would be unthinkable. But then, like you said, you don't really, you know
5:12
conform to even the Church of England all of the time. So it's not about your opinion
5:16
I'm trying to be consistent, I'm trying to be fair and be just. And if you want to ban something
5:20
when it regards to children's health, then it should be widely associated
5:24
with all the health issues that are there. Not just picking on one, because, again
5:28
it does demonise and discriminate one particular group We have fantastic health That how it is We have fantastic And that is not the priority on the NHS Fantastic health protection for children in this country Fantastic You know one of the leading countries in the world
5:40
to look after childcare. But this is an additional part of childcare
5:45
which is unnecessary. That's all I'm saying. Well, it's diminishing even in that community
5:48
as far as I can see. A lot of the new generations are not actually doing that, even by choice
5:53
So, again, like I said, if it's not a priority in the NHS, it's not a top of the list
5:57
which other things are, I mean as in as a waiting list because that's not really happening. Why is that going to be in member of parliament
6:04
Just like banning, you know, the burka and things like that, you know at the end of it
6:08
I feel it really is picking on one particular community should we ban the burka? I don't think so no
6:14
Yes, of course we should A lot of people I know have actually chosen to wear it. They are reverse and they're converts in this country
6:24
I personally wouldn't wear it, but I do feel that people have a choice in this country
6:28
Saying that you should or shouldn't is not given a choice. It's a subjugation of women's rights. No, it's not
6:32
And you say to some it's choice, but when you see a woman in a burqa
6:37
you have no idea whether it's her choice or whether she's been told to do it by her husband. But you seem to know because you think it's a question
6:42
No, I don't. You're just assuming. Oh, no, no. You're just assuming the worst. You must agree with me. Not every woman who wears a burqa does it through choice
6:49
Is that true? I do think, whether it's the hijab or even..
6:53
I'm the first to call out my own community, that's one thing for sure, and I have actually brought this up
6:58
but I do see that there is a choice to be made, and we're not living in a country that tells women what to dress
7:03
what to wear. Fair point. But are some women forced to wear the burqa
7:08
Some women are. Well, it's oppressive. It is oppressive, but there's a lot of people
7:13
that experience domestic violence, we don't talk about that. But if you found a burqa, you would liberate some women
7:19
wouldn't you? Right, guys. Banderberka liberate women. We'll calm down a little bit, Mike. OK
7:23
I don't need calming down. Well, well, well, well. Maybe for him. It's time for..
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