What does the coalition government mean for family law reform? Mark Irving reports
On 11 May 2010, having kissed hands with the Queen, David Cameron stood before the world’s press outside 10 Downing Street and declared: “I want us to build a society with stronger families…this is going to be hard and difficult work.”
The following day, a thumbnail coalition agreement was published which barely mentioned family policy, other than in the guise of taxation policy. On 20 May, the government published its Programme for government, but during its one hour long press launch, family policy was mentioned only in passing during Nick Clegg’s introductory statement. The programme itself lists 13 commitments for family and children, but some difficult family law issues have been sidestepped. There was no mention of family law reform in the Queen’s Speech on 25 May.
Deeper investigation reveals an important reason for such ducking and diving. In many respects Liberal Democrat and Conservative policies relating to the family have been, and evidently still are, diametrically opposed.
So what are the key issues? What have the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives had to
