Thursday, 10 July 2008
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13:33
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A Father has been holding a roof-top protest at the London home of Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman.
Nigel Ace, from Swansea, was part of a two-man demonstration staged by campaign group Fathers 4 Justice at the property in Herne Hill yesterday.
Sales manager Mr Ace, aged 40, now lives in North Somerset, but was born in Gower and has a primary school age daughter, who still lives with her mother near Swansea.
Mr Ace, who took to the roof dressed as Spiderman, said he and his fellow protester, 42-year-old Tony Ashby from Leicester, who was dressed as Batman, were staging the protest following Ms Harman's recent promises over equality in the workforce.
Mr Ace said: "What about dads? We haven't got equality.
"The government is ignoring us and has a feminist agenda.
"We want Harriet Harman to come back here and engage in a debate with us and, if not, Gordon Brown should come.
"I am trained in survival, so I don't care how long we are up here."
It is the second protest at Ms Harman's south London home by members of Fathers 4 Justice in just over a month.
Officers from Scotland Yard were called to the home of the Minster for Women at 6.20am yesterday, where Mr Ace and Mr Ashby unfurled a banner on the roof declaring "Stop the war on dads".
The pair are said to have at least three days' supply of food and water.
According to Fathers 4 Justice, Mr Ace had regular contact with his daughter following the breakdown of his marriage until his former wife withdrew access, leading to a battle in the family courts which has lasted two-and-a-half years.
They say two expert reports concluded he was a loving father who posed no risk to his daughter, and that Mr Ace and his elderly parents just want to play a meaningful role in his daughter's life.
A spokesman for Fathers 4 Justice said: "In the way women campaigned for equal rights in the workplace, we want equal rights in the home and to our children.
"Our government and Harriet Harman are legally, morally obliged to deliver."
Two men who staged a similar protest on Ms Harman's home last month were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and causing a public nuisance, and were bailed by police until July 16 pending further inquiries.
Nigel Ace, from Swansea, was part of a two-man demonstration staged by campaign group Fathers 4 Justice at the property in Herne Hill yesterday.
Sales manager Mr Ace, aged 40, now lives in North Somerset, but was born in Gower and has a primary school age daughter, who still lives with her mother near Swansea.
Mr Ace, who took to the roof dressed as Spiderman, said he and his fellow protester, 42-year-old Tony Ashby from Leicester, who was dressed as Batman, were staging the protest following Ms Harman's recent promises over equality in the workforce.
Mr Ace said: "What about dads? We haven't got equality.
"The government is ignoring us and has a feminist agenda.
"We want Harriet Harman to come back here and engage in a debate with us and, if not, Gordon Brown should come.
"I am trained in survival, so I don't care how long we are up here."
It is the second protest at Ms Harman's south London home by members of Fathers 4 Justice in just over a month.
Officers from Scotland Yard were called to the home of the Minster for Women at 6.20am yesterday, where Mr Ace and Mr Ashby unfurled a banner on the roof declaring "Stop the war on dads".
The pair are said to have at least three days' supply of food and water.
According to Fathers 4 Justice, Mr Ace had regular contact with his daughter following the breakdown of his marriage until his former wife withdrew access, leading to a battle in the family courts which has lasted two-and-a-half years.
They say two expert reports concluded he was a loving father who posed no risk to his daughter, and that Mr Ace and his elderly parents just want to play a meaningful role in his daughter's life.
A spokesman for Fathers 4 Justice said: "In the way women campaigned for equal rights in the workplace, we want equal rights in the home and to our children.
"Our government and Harriet Harman are legally, morally obliged to deliver."
Two men who staged a similar protest on Ms Harman's home last month were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and causing a public nuisance, and were bailed by police until July 16 pending further inquiries.
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