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Boris Johnson is likely face a backlash from some his own MPs over no fault “quickie” divorces expected to be made “legal” as soon as next month.
The government says the legislation, due to be voted on in the House of Commons on Monday, aims to protect children and couples by ending the “blame game” between spouses.
But Tory MPs are reportedly expected to rebel against the biggest shake up of divorce laws for 50 years, because they fear it could lead to a spike in couples splitting up during the coronavirus lockdown.
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Under the current divorce system in England and Wales, one spouse must initiate the process of filing for divorce and, in the process, make an accusation about the other’s conduct, such as “unreasonable behaviour”, adultery or desertion.
If the couple isn’t able to do so, they face a minimum of two years of living apart in a “separation” period before the marriage can be legally dissolved, even if the decision is mutual.
The new “no fault” law hopes to change this by taking blame out of the equation and allowing couples to mutually cite “irretrievable breakdown” as the sole grounds for wanting to divorce.
Couples would be granted a divorce after just six months under the reforms, which also introduce a 20-week “reflection” period.
The second reading of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill is due to be voted on in the House of Commons on Monday and is expected to become law as early as July.
But several Tories are said to be unhappy with the reforms, which come at a time when many relationships are under enormous strain because of the coronavirus lockdown.
According to The Daily Telegraph, dozens of Conservative MPs are prepared to rebel next week – some for the first time – over fears the reforms could spark a jump in divorce rates.
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Co-op Legal Services this week revealed it had seen a 42 per cent increase in divorce enquiries between 23 March and mid May, compared with the same period last year.
The legal firm said that while lockdown has been a treasured time for households to spend together, it may have prompted some couples who were considering divorce to take the next step.
1/20
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp are understood to have reached a settlement in their divorce proceedings. Heard, 30, has dismissed her petition for a restraining order against Depp She has reportedly accepted a $7 million settlement
2/20
The news about their split came after their 10-year wedding anniversary in June 2015 and despite all the reports, many fans didn’t believe it could be true until Ben and Jen revealed their plans to divorce
Getty Images
3/20
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale announced their split after 13 years of marriage in August 2015 after Gavin was rumored to have had an affair with the family nanny
Getty Images for L.A.M.B.
4/20
Melanie and Antonio managed to make their marriage last 18 years before it was revealed in June 2014 that Melanie was divorcing Antonio
Getty Images for Children’s Hosp
5/20
In October 2013 they shared that they had separated after three years of marriage
Getty Images
6/20
Tom Cruise announced that “Kate has filed for divorce” in June 2012. The couple were married for more than five years
Getty Images
7/20
Heidi and Seal’s separation was announced in 2012
Getty Images
8/20
Pop star Katy Perry has revealed that Russell Brand told her he was divorcing her in a text message. The couple split just 14 months after getting married in India in 2010
Getty Images
9/20
In November 2011, Demi filed for divorce, saying, “As a woman, a mother and a wife, there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life”
Getty Images
10/20
In July 2011, J Lo and Marc released a statement saying, “We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters”
Getty Images
11/20
Gwyneth and Chris were married for more than 10 years and had 2 children together when they announced that they were “consciously uncoupling”
Getty Images for Entertainment I
12/20
After one of the most renowned cheating scandals of all time, Tiger Woods reportedly paid €89 million to his ex-wife in their 2010 divorce. As part of the settlement, the golfer also had to pay €48 million towards the couple’s mortgage by January of this year
Getty Images
13/20
Madonna and filmmaker Guy Ritchie were married for eight years before splitting in 2008. The pop star reportedly paid Ritchie between €67 and €81 million, including the value of their London pub, the Punchbowl and their country home
Getty Images
14/20
Heather Mills was awarded £24.3m in her bitter divorce from Sir Paul McCartney
15/20
Sarko and Cecilia: The true cost of Nicolas Sarkozy’s split from wife Cécilia and remarriage to the (occasional) nude model Carla Bruni can be counted in two ways: first, in the unpleasant headlines surrounding the manner in which Cécilia was treated; and second, in the French opinion polls, which show Sarko as the most unpopular president in living memory
GETTY IMAGES
16/20
Bruce and Demi Moore: Divorce doesn’t get better than this. After 13 years of marriage, they split in 2000, sharing custody of three daughters. Willis is so chummy with his ex that he attended her wedding to Ashton Kutcher. “Demi is the mother of my children and Ashton is the stepfather of my children. I’m thrilled that [he] turned out to be such a great guy,” he gushed
GETTY IMAGES
17/20
Tom and Nicole: It took some time, but when the biggest Hollywood divorce of the 1990s was finally concluded, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman allowed themselves a brief, celebratory punch of the air before getting on with life. They happily share custody of two adopted children, and both maintain (in public, at least) that they have “no regrets” about their relationship
GETTY IMAGES
18/20
Brad and Jennifer First: Jennifer Aniston had to cope with reports that her husband, Brad Pitt, was playing away with Angelina Jolie on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith. Then, she suffered the indignity, amid rumours about her alleged refusal to have children, of seeing T-shirts bearing the slogan, “I’ll have your baby, Brad” become a must-have fashion accessory
GETTY IMAGES
19/20
Charles and Diana: It’s never easy to keep a sense of proportion about divorce. But when the chosen medium for announcing your separation is an announcement by the prime minister to the House of Commons, it is almost impossible. Charles and Diana’s marital troubles inspired the greatest tabloid feeding-frenzy of modern times – with tragic results
Getty Images
20/20
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor: If Taylor made a habit of nasty divorces, her life would hardly have been worth living: the actress has married no fewer than eight times, to seven different husbands. Most of her marriages ended (relatively) amicably. Richard Burton enjoyed divorcing her in 1974 so much that he remarried her in 1975, then divorced her again in 1976
Getty Images
1/20
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp are understood to have reached a settlement in their divorce proceedings. Heard, 30, has dismissed her petition for a restraining order against Depp She has reportedly accepted a $7 million settlement
2/20
The news about their split came after their 10-year wedding anniversary in June 2015 and despite all the reports, many fans didn’t believe it could be true until Ben and Jen revealed their plans to divorce
Getty Images
3/20
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale announced their split after 13 years of marriage in August 2015 after Gavin was rumored to have had an affair with the family nanny
Getty Images for L.A.M.B.
4/20
Melanie and Antonio managed to make their marriage last 18 years before it was revealed in June 2014 that Melanie was divorcing Antonio
Getty Images for Children’s Hosp
5/20
In October 2013 they shared that they had separated after three years of marriage
Getty Images
6/20
Tom Cruise announced that “Kate has filed for divorce” in June 2012. The couple were married for more than five years
Getty Images
7/20
Heidi and Seal’s separation was announced in 2012
Getty Images
8/20
Pop star Katy Perry has revealed that Russell Brand told her he was divorcing her in a text message. The couple split just 14 months after getting married in India in 2010
Getty Images
9/20
In November 2011, Demi filed for divorce, saying, “As a woman, a mother and a wife, there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life”
Getty Images
10/20
In July 2011, J Lo and Marc released a statement saying, “We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters”
Getty Images
11/20
Gwyneth and Chris were married for more than 10 years and had 2 children together when they announced that they were “consciously uncoupling”
Getty Images for Entertainment I
12/20
After one of the most renowned cheating scandals of all time, Tiger Woods reportedly paid €89 million to his ex-wife in their 2010 divorce. As part of the settlement, the golfer also had to pay €48 million towards the couple’s mortgage by January of this year
Getty Images
13/20
Madonna and filmmaker Guy Ritchie were married for eight years before splitting in 2008. The pop star reportedly paid Ritchie between €67 and €81 million, including the value of their London pub, the Punchbowl and their country home
Getty Images
14/20
Heather Mills was awarded £24.3m in her bitter divorce from Sir Paul McCartney
15/20
Sarko and Cecilia: The true cost of Nicolas Sarkozy’s split from wife Cécilia and remarriage to the (occasional) nude model Carla Bruni can be counted in two ways: first, in the unpleasant headlines surrounding the manner in which Cécilia was treated; and second, in the French opinion polls, which show Sarko as the most unpopular president in living memory
GETTY IMAGES
16/20
Bruce and Demi Moore: Divorce doesn’t get better than this. After 13 years of marriage, they split in 2000, sharing custody of three daughters. Willis is so chummy with his ex that he attended her wedding to Ashton Kutcher. “Demi is the mother of my children and Ashton is the stepfather of my children. I’m thrilled that [he] turned out to be such a great guy,” he gushed
GETTY IMAGES
17/20
Tom and Nicole: It took some time, but when the biggest Hollywood divorce of the 1990s was finally concluded, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman allowed themselves a brief, celebratory punch of the air before getting on with life. They happily share custody of two adopted children, and both maintain (in public, at least) that they have “no regrets” about their relationship
GETTY IMAGES
18/20
Brad and Jennifer First: Jennifer Aniston had to cope with reports that her husband, Brad Pitt, was playing away with Angelina Jolie on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith. Then, she suffered the indignity, amid rumours about her alleged refusal to have children, of seeing T-shirts bearing the slogan, “I’ll have your baby, Brad” become a must-have fashion accessory
GETTY IMAGES
19/20
Charles and Diana: It’s never easy to keep a sense of proportion about divorce. But when the chosen medium for announcing your separation is an announcement by the prime minister to the House of Commons, it is almost impossible. Charles and Diana’s marital troubles inspired the greatest tabloid feeding-frenzy of modern times – with tragic results
Getty Images
20/20
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor: If Taylor made a habit of nasty divorces, her life would hardly have been worth living: the actress has married no fewer than eight times, to seven different husbands. Most of her marriages ended (relatively) amicably. Richard Burton enjoyed divorcing her in 1974 so much that he remarried her in 1975, then divorced her again in 1976
Getty Images
During some weeks of the lockdown, it saw enquiries jump by as much as 75 per cent compared with a year earlier.
In a letter to 200 Tory MPs on Friday, seen by The Telegraph, Conservative MPs Sir Edward Leigh, Fiona Bruce and Sir John Hayes raised their concerns that the overhaul would lead to an “immediate ‘spike’ in divorce rates”.
They reportedly claimed the plans were “sprung” on them and that there was no public support for the bill, which did not feature in the Conservative manifesto, adding: “Now more than ever we need to provide much more support for couples – and their families – many of whom desperately want to make their marriages work; as drafted this Bill is not the way to achieve this.”
A number of MPs are hoping ministers will agree to amend the proposals to grant divorces after a minimum of nine months, rather than six, and could rebel on Monday if they refuse.
The reforms come after the Supreme Court in 2018 rejected a woman’s bid to divorce her husband of 40 years because the marriage was “loveless” and had “broken down”.
Tini Owens, 68, claimed her marriage had broken down following an affair she had several years ago but was told she could not divorce Hugh Owens, 78, who refused to agree to it.
Ms Owens was told she would be able to divorce in 2020, once the couple had been separated for five years.
