Children should be taught the moral and practical benefits of traditional family life.
This morning the Labour Party have published a green paper supporting the institution of marriage and conceding that children fare better when parents stay together.
A number of Labour’s proposals can be found in the Family Law White Paper that was presented, debated and accepted by delegates at the British National Party’s Annual Conference in November.
On the right of contact with their children for estranged parents, the BNP pledged to introduce a legal presumption to contact as this would act in the child’s best interest by ensuring a continued relationship with both parents. In addition, all special dates such as birthdays and Christmas would be shared between the parents.
It was agreed by conference that the BNP should recognize the fact that many single parent families are formed by circumstances in which no blame can be attached such as death or the breakup of a formerly stable family unit, but it was also stressed:
“Whilst we affirm that no child should ever be penalised for the actions of a parent, the BNP will seek ways to discourage the formation of single-parent families as a Tax payer funded career option for young women and the closely connected problem of feckless young men fathering children and walking away from their responsibilities. Our school children will be taught through the National Curriculum the moral and practical benefits of the traditional family unit.”
On disputes that end up in court currently both the applicant and the respondent are entitled to apply for Legal Aid funding. In the vast majority of cases the mother gets legal aid as she is normally in receipt of some form of state benefit including Working Families Tax Credit and, as a result, is entitled to Legal Aid. The vast majority of fathers are working and not in receipt of state benefits, so have to fund their application themselves.
The White Paper acknowledged parents or a parent receiving Legal Aid can afford to prolong the proceedings at no expense to themselves. However many working parents are forced to pay thousands of pounds and are still not guaranteed to gain direct or indirect contact with their child.
The BNP called for all disputes should be solved by State funded mediation which should, if necessary, be followed by arbitration without the need for Legal Aid for either party.
The substantial 32 page document was debated on both the Saturday and Sunday of conference and was voted on, and passed, just before Nick Griffin’s closing speech.
