An MP has urged Ministers to bring forward laws to end the “offensive and outdated message” that marriage is a "business transaction between fathers".

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, slammed the current regulations which maintain a marriage certificate must include details of the fathers, but not the mothers, of the bride and groom.

She said: “Our law should not perpetuate the grossly outdated message that marriage should be seen as a business transaction between the father of the bride and the father of the groom.

"I call on the Home Secretary to change this law without delay and allow people to recognise the importance of mothers on their marriage certificates."

The motion tabled in Parliament has so far been signed by 26 MPs.

It follows a petition on the change.org website, which has attracted more than 37,500 signatures calling for the names of mothers to be included alongside those of fathers.