Statement by Fathers4Justice about Conservative Party Allegations
Fathers4Justice publish the letter sent to MPs and members of the House of Lords on 26/3/15 before the dissolution of Parliament, after a member of the House of Lords raised allegations made by David Cameron, Prime Minister, & Caroline Nokes MP, with the organisation. The letter was widely read, particularly by members of the Labour Party. Within hours of it’s publication, David Cameron had apologised to Fathers4Justice: https://www.fathers-4-justice.org/prime-minister-david-cameron-apologises-to-fathers4justice-founder-matt-oconnor/
STATEMENT BY FATHERS4JUSTICE ABOUT CONSERVATIVE PARTY ALLEGATIONS
We have recently been made aware of allegations made against Fathers4Justice by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes.
We take all allegations seriously, and where these are falsely made, will ask that these allegations are withdrawn.
In an interview with the Evening Standard on 17th March 2015, Mr Cameron made an allegation that Fathers4Justice had climbed onto the roof of his Oxfordshire home and implied criminal damage as a result. This allegation, which was raised with us by a member of the House of Lords this week, is entirely false, and we have written to him asking him to withdraw these remarks and apologise for them so there is no need for legal action.
With regard to Caroline Nokes MP, we are aware she has made numerous allegations over several months alleging she has been harassed and threatened by Fathers4Justice. These allegations are entirely false, and were made after Ms Nokes was interviewed by Hampshire Police in the vicinity of the family home of F4J founder, Matt O’Connor, on 20th February 2014, following a violent incident which took place in front of O’Connor’s 8-yr-old son.
In September 2014, the O’Connor’s began civil action against Ms Nokes for aiding and abetting assault, causing alarm and distress to a child, stalking, harassment, breach of privacy and trespass. The O’Connor’s are seeking damages and compensation for anxiety, distress and fear, caused to their son, who is also party to proceedings. Further, Ms Nokes has been asked to withdraw her remarks and apologise for them so there is no need for legal action.
As a campaign group, we have repeatedly been subject to false allegations over the years including accusations that Fathers4Justice plotted to kidnap the then Prime Minister’s son, Leo Blair, in 2006, and of making death threats against Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss.
Dame Elizabeth publicly apologised for making those allegations in a statement in the House of Lords here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD9Sw3rxnwI
Fathers4Justice would like to point out that 104 MPs from all political parties including Frank Field, David Blunkett, David Lammy, John Hemming & Caroline Lucas, signed EDM 210 supporting their campaign for Shared Parenting and that F4J is committed to building a political consensus amongst MPs in the next Parliament. You can read our Shared Parenting Briefing Paper here: https://www.fathers-4-justice.org/fathers4justice-launch-their-shared-parenting-election-briefing-paper-for-mps-political-parties/
