Penny Booth: Ups and Downs of Family Life

Well with all the talk this week of benefit cuts service cuts and pensions one could be forgiven for feeling somewhat depressed about the finances in the country. What is of concern to me is the cut in legal aid and the possibility of making people go to mediation. I agree that public money should not be spent unless attempts are made to help couples where marriages are in trouble (and civil partnerships? Well how about long-term cohabitations?) but forcing people to go to mediation - how does that work then? I would like to see couples being encouraged to use mediation (I remember something of this in the previous attempt to reform the law in the abortive divorce reforms of 1996) but the ‘devil is in the detail' on this one. I hope we think that one through before any big announcements are made.

Talking of big announcements - the announcement of...

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