Mccartney’s divorce lawyer attacks power of judges

DIVORCE judges have too much power, Sir Paul Mccartney’s lawyer told peers yesterday.

Baroness Shackleton, who also handled the divorce of the Duke and Duchess of York, said judges were applying a “statute no longer fit for purpose” which left too much at their discretion.

Legal experts also told the House of Lords that divorce law should be made fairer to stop “wives of wealthy men” coming to London for a “generous settlement”.

The proposals, backed by Lady Shackleton and Baroness Deech, the former chairman of the Bar Standards Board, could lead to assets being split down the middle like in Scotland.

Introducing her Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill, Lady Deech said it was “shameful” that the Government has done nothing when “the lives of couples are laid waste by the costs, bitterness and uncertainty of the law”. The Bill, which has backing across the Lords chamber, is unlikely to make it on to the statute books unless the Government is also on side.

‘The lives of couples are laid waste by the costs, bitterness and uncertainty of the law’

England and Wales’ divorce laws are 45 years old and campaigners have warned they are out of date.

Lady Deech said the Bill would strengthen the position of children in settlements and set as the starting point the equal division of all the property and pensions acquired by the couple after marriage.