GB News
A GB News investigation has uncovered social media posts openly advertising polygamous relationships in Britain. Across Facebook groups men are openly seeking second wives, often attaching highly specific conditions for women willing to enter into plural marriages. A Muslim matchmaking forum also allows users to filter options to include polygamy. Some adverts on Facebook effectively resemble recruitment processes for shared husbands. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say In one example seen by the People's Channel, a man searching for a “second wife” stated any prospective woman would first need to pass an “interview” with his existing partner and children before being considered suitable. The same advert added he could only “ensure 3-4 nights stay” and preferably wanted a woman with “their own accommodation as well”. Another post, published openly in a British Bengali matchmaking group, saw a man advertise for an additional wife while explaining that any second wife would likely spend most of her time living separately from him. Women were instructed to send “CV and pictures” for consideration. In another example reviewed by Britain's News Channel, a woman posted on behalf of her husband seeking “a suitable match as a second wife”, adding that the ideal candidate should understand “the dynamics of a plural marriage”. The adverts are not hidden away on obscure websites. Many are posted openly inside large Facebook matchmaking groups with thousands of members across Britain. We also identified a dating platform openly facilitating users seeking plural marriages. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS White British births fall to record low as more than 33% of new mothers were born overseas Sharia UK exposed: Marriage without ‘spoken consent’ from virgins and 'misogynistic' divorce advice Foreign criminals in Britain's jails cost taxpayers almost £630 MILLION per year The matchmaking app Muslima – available on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play and accessible in the UK – allows users to filter matches based on whether they “accept polygamy”. Under the app’s advanced filters, users can select options including “Accept polygamy”, “Maybe accept polygamy” or “Don’t accept polygamy”. Civil polygamy, which refers to the legal recognition of having multiple spouses at the same time by the state, is against the law in the UK. However, polygamy can continue to be practised purely in a religious or customary context, such as where an individual has multiple spouses simultaneously as sanctioned by religious texts or cultural traditions, rather than under secular civil law. In these circumstances, no offence will have been committed, but the arrangement would not be recognised by law and instead the partners would be legally considered unmarried cohabitants. Controversy has intensified following revelations British taxpayers are still funding certain overseas polygamous households through the welfare system. Last month, figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions showed from April 2026, second, third and fourth spouses in qualifying households will each receive £125.25 per week in Pension Credit or Housing Benefit. Under the rules, the main claimant and first spouse can receive £363.25 per week, with additional weekly payments added for each extra spouse living in the household. The arrangements apply only to marriages legally contracted overseas in countries where polygamy is lawful before the families moved to Britain. The system means the UK bans civil polygamous marriage domestically while still recognising certain overseas plural marriages financially once families arrive in the UK. The DWP previously said in a statement: "There are rules in place to ensure there is no financial benefit for claiming from a polygamous household. "Only marriages that took place in a country where the practise is legal are recognised. As a result, very few, if any, households claim this way." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Go to News Site