Fixed term marriages proposed

An alliance of right wing politicians and representatives of several churches have been putting pressure on government to introduce voluntary fixed term marriages it emerged today. According to reports, if couples choose these non-terminable marriages as they have been called they do so voluntarily but, after a 100 day cooling off period, the marriage cannot then be legally annulled before the fixed term has expired. In other words, they will stay married for at least the length of time they have chosen. At the moment the proposal allows couples to choose ten, twenty, or thirty year periods of marriage (although other time periods may be introduced). Depending on the length of term chosen, the couple would, under the proposal, benefit from a higher income tax threshold and a reduced rate of Capital Gains Tax.

The idea behind the proposal is that it will dramatically reduce the divorce rate which is seen by many to be far too high. “We seem to have come to accept the fact that around half of marriages will fail.” said one source. “I find that quite strange. Imagine the uproar if half of all houses that were built fell down.” Others, however, disagree quite strongly. Eunice Varley, a relationship expert, voiced her concerns. “Far too much pressure is going to be put on younger couples in particular: one or other or both might wonder why the other doesn’t want to commit to one of these fixed terms or why they only feel it might last for ten years. Or, in the glow and excitement of getting married they may opt for this without thinking it through.”