Press Release

You don’t need to be married to be a good parent

Alan Johnson will argue that Family Policy must be bias free when he delivers the Relate Institute inaugural lecture on 27^th February, warning that it should not be based upon whether parents are married or not, but upon children’s needs.

He will support alternative family structures, whilst emphasising that not all children from married couples lead happy lives and declaring that every child has the right to the best start in life.

He will argue that it is the quality of the parenting that counts and the shape of the ‘family’ it comes from is secondary.

Families Need Fathers agree and offer support to thousands of fathers, mothers and other relatives who would like to be there for the children in their lives but owing to our current system cannot.
 

John Baker, Chair of FNF says:

‘At last someone in the government is willing to speak out for all parents, whatever their circumstances and the benefits they can bring to their children. The parents we represent have a massive role to play in offering love, security and guidance to their children.’
 

His speech comes in the wake of David Cameron’s argument blaming absent fathers for the explosion of gun and gang culture, and promising tax breaks for married couples.
 

Families Need Fathers works with thousands of separated parents who desperately want to play a part in their children’s upbringing, but who are prevented from doing so by the current legal system which penalises unmarried fathers. The Government needs to recognise the variants of families that exist, and through the introduction of Shared Parenting legislation, enable both parents to have equal involvement in their children’s lives.
 

As Johnson will declare, “It’s the parenting that counts”.
 

We need legislation that truly reflects this.

-  ENDS  -

Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both parents. Founded in 1975, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

Please see Families Need Fathers' paper ‘The Case for Shared Parenting Legislation’