Both Parents Matter Condemns Government move to scrap Presumption of Parental Involvement

Both Parents Matter is deeply concerned by the government’s announcement of their intention to repeal the Presumption of Parental Involvement.

A key part of the Children and Families Act 1989, the Presumption affirms a simple, child centered principle: that it is in a child’s best interest to have involvement with both parents, unless there is a risk of harm. Our charity played a central role in securing this reform under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government and we believe it remains a vital safeguard for children and families which:

promotes the ongoing involvement of both parents where safe and in the child’s best interest;

operates within existing safeguards where there is a risk of harm;

reflects the principles of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;

reflects modern family dynamics;

and protects the child’s right to have a relationship with both parents.

Both Parents Matter believe this is an ideological decision by the government based on deeply flawed, tiny, gender-biased and unrepresentative data samples. The government has failed to provide any evidential basis for removing the Presumption.

Sam Morfey, CEO of Both Parents Matter, said:

“Its removal will turn the clock back several decades to an era where one parent can unilaterally control the other parent’s relationship with their child. This regressive step will increase delays and acrimony in the family court and ultimately increase the risk of a child being unfairly denied access to a meaningful and loving relationship with a parent.

The government has chosen to ignore the overwhelming data in favour of shared parenting; this is part of an ideological attack on what it sees as a “pro contact” culture and which will make the UK a complete outlier on shared parenting.”

Both Parents Matter will be campaigning robustly against it and for a family justice system grounded in fairness, evidence and the welfare of children—not ideology.

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