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| Divorce laws: It's time to end the blame game, says minister | Divorce laws: It's time to end the blame game, says minister |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| "It is time to end the blame game," Justice Secretary David Gauke has told the Commons, as he seeks to change divorce laws in England and Wales. | "It is time to end the blame game," Justice Secretary David Gauke has told the Commons, as he seeks to change divorce laws in England and Wales. |
| The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill removes the need to find fault in order to start proceedings immediately. | The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill removes the need to find fault in order to start proceedings immediately. |
| Mr Gauke said current rules prevent couples from separating "if they have grown apart" unless they have the means to live apart for two years. | Mr Gauke said current rules prevent couples from separating "if they have grown apart" unless they have the means to live apart for two years. |
| However, some MPs argued the changes could lead a rise in divorces. | However, some MPs argued the changes could lead a rise in divorces. |
| Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said Labour would be supporting the bill, arguing it would protect women from domestic abuse, limit the damage to children and "encourage amicable separations". | Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said Labour would be supporting the bill, arguing it would protect women from domestic abuse, limit the damage to children and "encourage amicable separations". |
| He also urged the government to reintroduce legal aid for early legal advice for couples going through the divorce procedure. | He also urged the government to reintroduce legal aid for early legal advice for couples going through the divorce procedure. |
| MPs approved the bill at its second reading - bringing changes to the law a step closer. | |
| Current grounds for divorce in England and Wales: | Current grounds for divorce in England and Wales: |
| When you apply for a divorce you must prove your marriage has broken down and give one of the following five reasons: | When you apply for a divorce you must prove your marriage has broken down and give one of the following five reasons: |
| Source: Gov.UK | Source: Gov.UK |
| What does the new bill do? | What does the new bill do? |
| Source: Parliament.uk | Source: Parliament.uk |
| Other MPs were less supportive of the bill, emphasising their belief in the importance of couples staying together. | Other MPs were less supportive of the bill, emphasising their belief in the importance of couples staying together. |
| Conservative Fiona Bruce said there was evidence that "even in argumentative" relationships, the stability of marriage benefitted any children. | Conservative Fiona Bruce said there was evidence that "even in argumentative" relationships, the stability of marriage benefitted any children. |
| She suggested the proposals would promote "divorce on demand" and could "inhibit the dialogue that could promote reconciliation". | She suggested the proposals would promote "divorce on demand" and could "inhibit the dialogue that could promote reconciliation". |
| DUP MP Gavin Newlands disagreed with her, though, asking "why should someone feel trapped in a marriage in which they are not invested?" | DUP MP Gavin Newlands disagreed with her, though, asking "why should someone feel trapped in a marriage in which they are not invested?" |
| Lib Dem Wera Hobhouse said the law was "a positive step" which would "empower people, not hold them back". | |
| However, she said the legal system still needed to "catch up". She said "millions of couples live together without making a formal commitment", and urged the government to introduce "essential rights" for those who had cohabited for at least three years. | |
| Spike in divorces? | Spike in divorces? |
| Another Tory MP - Eddie Hughes - told MPs he thought his marriage "would be forever but my wife decided otherwise". | Another Tory MP - Eddie Hughes - told MPs he thought his marriage "would be forever but my wife decided otherwise". |
| "It was a very emotional time," he said. | "It was a very emotional time," he said. |
| He raised concerns that the new rules could make it easier to divorce and there would be "a spike" in the number of couples separating. | He raised concerns that the new rules could make it easier to divorce and there would be "a spike" in the number of couples separating. |
| Mr Gauke acknowledged there would be a spike in divorces if the law were to pass. However, he said this would be due to people who had been holding off their separation, waiting for the laws to be changed. | Mr Gauke acknowledged there would be a spike in divorces if the law were to pass. However, he said this would be due to people who had been holding off their separation, waiting for the laws to be changed. |
| He said international evidence indicated that following an initial rise, divorce rates "will remain much the same". | He said international evidence indicated that following an initial rise, divorce rates "will remain much the same". |
| He also said a change in the law would help in situations where there is one abusive partner, but the other does not want to raise these issues in court. | He also said a change in the law would help in situations where there is one abusive partner, but the other does not want to raise these issues in court. |
| The bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons. In order to become law it will undergo further scrutiny from MPs before being considered by peers in the House of Lords. | |
| The proposed changes follow the Supreme Court's rejection of a woman's appeal for divorce after her husband refused to agree a split. | The proposed changes follow the Supreme Court's rejection of a woman's appeal for divorce after her husband refused to agree a split. |
| Tini Owens, 68, from Worcestershire, wanted to divorce her husband of 40 years, on the grounds that she was unhappy. | Tini Owens, 68, from Worcestershire, wanted to divorce her husband of 40 years, on the grounds that she was unhappy. |
| But husband Hugh refused to agree to it and the Supreme Court unanimously rejected her appeal. | But husband Hugh refused to agree to it and the Supreme Court unanimously rejected her appeal. |
| It meant the couple must remain married until 2020. | It meant the couple must remain married until 2020. |