Caroline Nokes MP Subverts Democracy In Smear Campaign Against F4J
5th July 2013
Caroline Nokes MP
House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA
Ref: Fathers4Justice Election Promises
Dear Caroline,
We are disappointed that as the MP for Romsey and Southampton North, (elected with the support of Fathers4Justice), you not only continue to refuse to answer why you broke your election promises to us, but are refusing to represent at least 8 of your constituents.
You have not only subverted the democratic process and the basic civil liberties of your constituents, but have launched an unprecedented attack on the freedom of the internet and those who use it, not least in soliciting the ban on the F4J Twitter account and an attempted ban on the F4J Facebook page.
We have now discovered at least one defamatory email (below) in which you use baseless accusations in an attempt to smear us and the 38,000 families we represent. Further, we are aware of other emails where you claim that you and the Police fear for your daughter’s safety.
We must warn you that we regard these accusations as extremely serious and without any foundation whatsoever. In fact, they are so inflammatory we feel unable to publish their content for fear of the reaction they may provoke and are instead passing this matter onto Hampshire Police in an effort to prevent the situation escalating.
We are therefore giving you until 4.00pm on Friday 5th July to withdraw these allegations in writing to us before we take further action. We will also await any advice we receive from Hampshire Police.
The rest of our position is set out below as a reminder of the current position.
Yours sincerely
Matt O’Connor,
Founder, Fathers4Justice
F4J OUTLINE OF THE DISPUTE WITH CAROLINE NOKES MP
In 2010 Caroline Nokes was elected as MP for Romsey and Southampton North with the support of Fathers4Justice after making election promises to us regarding equal parenting rights for fathers. Those promises were widely reported in the local press as was our position stating that she would be held to these promises.
In 2013, Ms Nokes broke those promises when she supported the discredited Children & Families Bill, a Bill which did not contain a single one of her promises.
We do not believe that MP’s should be able to break their promises with impunity and we asked her to explain why she broke her promises. She refused.
Rather than engaging with us, she chose to claim that even though her promises were made to Fathers4Justice the organisation, as we were not constituents, she was unable to assist us any further on the matter.
When we pointed out we were constituents, she changed position again, this time refusing not only to represent Mr and Mrs O’Connor, but their children and parents.
Regardless, we invited her to the Shared Parenting debate held on the 12th June in the Palace of Westminster which was attended by 10 of her constituents including children and local Conservatives. She refused to attend.
In a fundamental attack on civil liberties and our right to free speech, Caroline Nokes has taken down the F4J Twitter feed @F4JOfficial and that of F4J Founder Matt O’Connor @MattGOConnor.
She also temporarily removed the Facebook page of Campaign Director Nadine O’Connor and has attempted to take down the F4J Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Fathers4Justice
On Thursday 4th July, one of her constituents published correspondence with Caroline Nokes in which she makes a serious of highly defamatory and baseless accusations about Fathers4Justice. These false allegations are being used by Caroline Nokes as a smokescreen to avoid answering why she broke her election promises to F4J. The false accusations are as follows and imply that the Hampshire Police have colluded with her on this matter.
EMAIL CONTENT CONTAINING FALSE ACCUSATIONS
Subject: Re: F4J Twitter Account – private and confidential
Dear Stephen
Thank you for your email. If Nadine and Matt Oconnor had not been abusive, had not demanded to see a copy of the court order concerning a 14 year old girl’s living arrangements, had not incited F4J members to visit my house where my daughter lives in the dead of night, had not encouraged their members to send the most foul abuse by email, to post me their dirty underwear, then Twitter would not have ruled them to be abusive. Twitter gave them 3 warnings after I had been forced to call in the Police.
They have violated my privacy and referred to me as filthier than a dog.
I still support their aims, including shared and equal parenting, which I practise in my own life. But Twitter’s ruling regarding their abusive behaviour towards me and several others, is in my view merely standing up for common decency.
If you would like to come and discuss this at any time I am very happy to meet with you. However on police advice I will not meet the O’Connors.
Free speech is something we all believe in – freedom to abuse, harass and intimidate is not.
Best wishes
Caroline
Caroline Nokes MP
Romsey & Southampton North
ENDS
