A senior High Court judge has hit out at couples who ditch each other instead of trying to make their relationships work – condemning their children to the trauma of an unstable home.
Sir Paul Coleridge has launched a campaign to promote marriage and reverse the ‘appalling’ impact of family breakdown in the face of soaring divorce rates.
The judge, who has previously bemoaned divorce as easier than getting a driving licence, said the millions of children currently being fought over in the family courts were a ‘complete scandal’.
And in a controversial move for a serving judge, he is setting up a foundation to promote marriage as figures show that divorce is on the rise.
It comes on the day lawyers say is traditionally the busiest for divorce petitions.
Due to tension in families over the Christmas period, January sees the number of enquiries double – with the first working day of the year being the busiest.
Sir Paul condemned what he called couples’ ‘recycling’ attitudes in ending relationships when they have children to think of.
He told The Times: ‘My message is mend it — don’t end it. Over 40 years of working in the family justice system, I have seen the fall-out of these broken relationships.
‘There are an estimated 3.8million children currently caught up in the family justice system. I personally think that’s a complete scandal.’
Sir Paul, 62, who is married with three children and three grandchildren, also said marriage is better for children than cohabitation and advocated it as the ‘gold standard’.
He added: ‘You are four times more likely to break up before your child is five years old if you are not married.’
Note: There is extensive coverage and an interview in The Times of January 3, however this is only accessible to paid subscribers. See Also Daily Telegraph.