Tories will table a bill today to stop extra wives in polygamous marriages claiming up to £125 a week in benefits

A husband with four wives could pocket up to £1,504.40 a week from housing benefit and pension credit, Conservative analysis found. Six polygamous households are understood to be claiming these legacy benefits. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden will present his Social Security (Marriage) Bill, backed by Kemi Badenoch. He says struggling families 'should not be footing the bill for men with multiple wives'.

The bill would also bar overseas uncle–niece and aunt–nephew marriages from the welfare system.

Holden's challenge to the government: 'Andy Burnham and his Labour MPs now have a simple choice.'

All eleven co-sponsors, including Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat, sit in the shadow cabinet.