One analysis of a European neighbour's cohabitation reforms found the plans failed to achieve an increase in household stability and simultaneously weakened trust in long-term relationships

Labour is exploring plans to introduce greater rights for cohabiting couples which could see UK marriage rates decline and exacerbate Britain's falling birth rate by 75,000 a year.

The proposed reforms would give cohabiting couples in England and Wales who have lived together for at least three years, or who share a child, greater rights over each other’s property and finances.

However, research carried out by the Centre for Social Justice found the proposed “marriage-lite” arrangements could intensify Britain’s worsening “demographic time-bomb”, with the birth rate already having fallen to its lowest rate in 50 years.

With the public consultation set to close this Friday, the Christian Institute has warned the proposals could disincentivise marriage at a time where family separations are already at a record high.

Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute said: “Marriage is uniquely beneficial for couples, their children, and wider society.

“The financial and other advantages attached to it rightly reflect that. People who don’t promise to stay together shouldn’t be treated like those who do.

“We should be encouraging marriage, not making it look redundant.”

According to a previous study by the think tank, July 1 marked the point at which deaths outnumbered births, since dubbed ‘Death Day.’

The CSJ believes this trend could have negative implications for future living standards, as a shrinking workforce faces the challenge of supporting an ageing population.

In light of the reforms, Shadow Justice Secretary, Nick Timothy, said: “Strong societies depend on strong families.

“That does not mean ignoring the realities faced by couples who live together or pretending marriage solves every social problem.

“But it does mean recognising that law shapes behaviour, institutions matter, and strong families are built on choices people make and keep.”

The CSJ examined data in Finland to conduct their analysis, after the country introduced similar 'marriage-lite' reforms in 2011.

The statistics show that after introducing these measures Finland’s marriage rate fell by 23 per cent, while its fertility rate was almost 21 per cent lower by 2018.

Applying the same reforms to England and Wales could see 75,000 fewer babies born per year, the CSJ found.

It also estimates the Nordic country’s cohabitation reforms failed to achieve an increase in household stability and simultaneously weakened trust in long-term relationships.

Sophia Worringer, Deputy Research Director at the Centre for Social Justice, said Finland should serve as a warning to the UK.

“Many people in cohabiting relationships do not want to get married, and the Government should not impose marriage-style financial obligations on them by stealth,” she said.

“The lesson from Finland is clear: marriage fell, cohabitation declined, and fertility dropped. Andy Burnham should scrap any plans to follow its example.

“With birth rates already at historic lows and population ageing piling pressure on the public finances, the potential costs are too great, and the evidence too significant, to ignore.”

Polling by the CSJ found the public were equally sceptical of the proposed cohabitation reforms, with 60 per cent of people agreeing that couples should choose whether they can opt into the new legal framework, rather than automatically gaining marriage-style rights.

The survey also revealed concerns among couples that those who did not want to accept the new rights would have to go through a legal process to opt out, potentially putting unnecessary strain on their relationships.