Has no-fault divorce bill been abandoned?
CONTROVERSIAL divorce-on-demand reforms drawn up under Theresa May’s premiership look set to be abandoned by Boris Johnson.
The Ministry of Justice has declined to confirm that the reforms – which would grant a no-fault divorce at the request of just one partner in a marriage – will be included in the Government’s programme this autumn.
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill would have removed accusations of adultery and unreasonable behaviour from divorce law, replacing them with a no-fault system which would allow a divorce in six months even if one partner did not want to end the marriage.
The reforms had not become law before Mr Johnson prorogued Parliament so are automatically dropped. A spokesman at the ministry, run by new Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, said it had nothing to say about the fate of the bill.
The silence over divorce reforms contrasted with Mr Johnson’s promise yesterday that he will press ahead with Mrs May’s other major family law reform.
He promised the Queen’s Speech would include the Domestic Abuse Bill, which will force abuse offenders to stay outside exclusion zones around their victims.
Councils, police, social workers and victims will be able to apply for the new court orders requiring an abusive partner to reform or face up to five years in jail. The bill will also introduce the first legal government definition of domestic abuse, including economic abuse and non-physical controlling and manipulative behaviour.
Perpetrators of abuse will also be banned from cross-examining their victims in person in the family courts.
The Prime Minister said yesterday: ‘Domestic abuse shatters lives and tears families apart. We are fully committed to tackling this horrific crime.’
Judges and campaigning lawyers had pressed hard for a no-fault divorce law, but its critics included senior family lawyer Baroness Deech. She said it would be harsh towards spouses reluctant to divorce, and would not stop children and families from being caught up in rows over how to divide a couple’s home and money.