MORE than 70 MPs have now signed up in support of a call by Brighton MP Caroline Lucas for a debate in Parliament about changing the law on marriage certificates.

Two weeks ago the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion tabled an Early Day Motion calling for legislative changes that would include mothers’ names on marriage certificates.

Currently details of the fathers of the bride and groom, including their occupations, are included but not those of the mothers.

The motion is supported by Conservative Chloe Smith, Labour’s Joan Ruddock, Joan Walley and Yasmin Qureshi and the Lib Dem Bob Russell, and now also has the signatures of 70 MPs from right across the political spectrum.

Ms Lucas said: “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.

“Our law should not perpetuate the grossly outdated message that marriage should be seen as a business transaction between the father of the bride and the father of the groom.”

An online petition launched by chartered accountant Ailsa Burkimsher Sadler to “stop women being written out of history” has now attracted more than 47,000 signatures.

Caroline Criado-Perez, who fought for the representation of women on Bank of England banknotes, is supporting the campaign.

She said: “It is high time we severed our links with the past and dragged marriage into the present.”

To sign the petition, visit change.org/nameequality.