Tuesday 15 June 2010
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08:57
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Fathers calling for equal access to their children following a divorce or separation protested outside the Alconbury home of Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly.
Dressed in superhero costumes, members of New Fathers 4 Justice set up camp outside his home with purple tents and brought their ‘Batboat’ to use on a brook which runs past the MP’s house.
They targeted Mr Djanogly because he is Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice and the protesters believe he will play an important role in future family legislation.
A man calling himself Captain Equality, part of the group, said they aimed to put their message across to Mr Djanogly in a civilised manner.
“We are going to be right on his case because he has a key part in this,” he said. “If he fobs us off we will come back and it will not be so humorous next time.”
Captain Equality, who had a two-and-a-half year battle for access to his daughter, said: “It is what we would call a pilot demo in the run-up to the David Cameron demonstration in Witney next month.”
He said there would also be a demonstration at the home of Kenneth Clarke, Secretary of State for Justice, before they tackled the Prime Minister.
Captain Equality said: “What we are looking for is an automatic presumption of 50-50 status between parties after a divorce or separation. It doesn’t mean 50 per cent of the time, just that you can have as much time as you need.”
Protester Barry Gaynor, 44, from Peterborough, said: “Every day we hear from disgruntled dads who are becoming more militant with the lack of contact with their children.
“Daily, distressed fathers contact us in desperation about the abuse they are suffering at hands of the family court system.
“In the 21st century, fathers deserve equality when it comes to child contact and nothing less will suffice.”
He added: “It is only a matter of time before angry fathers try to climb rooftops, courts, bridges and landmarks again.
“We would rather be spending time with our children but feel we have no other option.”
Mr Djanogly has said that a review of legal aid and family law was taking place, which included a review of contact, and he hoped campaigners would be pleased with that.
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Thursday 3 June 2010
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08:53
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Tuesday 1 June 2010
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14:18
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Mr Laws had not returned to his rural residence this afternoon, but a group of fathers’ rights campaigners did arrive at the address.
The New Fathers for Justice had scheduled the protest in Lydmarsh weeks before the scandal broke - but made the most of the unexpected publicity.
They argued that cutting expenditure on the family courts was the way to beat the deficit.
Five campaigners - two dressed as Batman, one as Captain America, another as Superman, and one as Iron Man - unveiled a banner outside Mr Laws’ wooden gate.
It read: “Mend Broken Britain. Give Dads Equality.”
Some 15 officers were estimated by one constable to be in attendance at the scene. Some were visible in Mr Laws’ garden, others patrolling the private road in front of his home.
Father-of-two Richard Addams, 44, from Taunton, who dressed as Batman, said: “We chose him because he is a prominent member of the Government and in charge of the country’s finances - or what’s left of them.
“One billion pounds a year is spent on legal aid to mothers to fight their cases in the family courts. If he wants to save money he should give fathers automatic rights of contact, provided the child is not at risk.”
Group leader Nigel Ace, 42, from Clevedon, spoke through a megaphone while his comrades held the banner.
Apparently addressing Mr Laws, Mr Ace said: “If you keep your job, you can make a saving, sir. You need to get your party to support fathers. If you cut the cost of the family courts you can actually make people happy.”
The protest, which lasted under an hour, passed without incident and officers allowed Mr Ace to speak to the media outside the property. Later the campaigners put leaflets through his door.
It is understood that Mr Laws will not return to the address today.
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A GROUP of dads from the Bristol area took their New Fathers 4 Justice campaign for equal contact with children to the home of former Cabinet minister David Laws at the weekend as he was embroiled in controversy over his expenses.
Dressed as superheroes, the four headed for Chard in Mr Laws' Yeovil constituency in the hope of being able to speak with the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Mr Laws resigned over the weekend after revelations he claimed expenses for rent paid to his boyfriend, in breach of Parliamentary rules.
But the campaigners said it was unconnected to events in Mr Laws' private life and had been arranged before the story broke.
They took their "justice tent" and a portable cooker so they could pitch overnight if necessary.
The four started their day by meeting up in Bristol so they could walk around Broadmead and raise awareness of their campaign before travelling down to Somerset to meet several other protesters.
Nigel "Captain Equality" Ace, 41, of Clevedon was joined by Christian Lee-Smith, Adrian Phelps, and Jeremy Pogue.
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