Equal Parenting Alliance

The party was founded in February 2006 by former members of Fathers 4 Justice and New Fathers 4 Justice. It aimed to bring about reform of English family law.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.equalparentingalliance.org/about-us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204114631/http://www.equalparentingalliance.org/about-us |archive-date=2020-02-04 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Equal Parenting Alliance}}{{cite news |last=James |first=Deborah |date=2006-03-27 |title=Political party bid over fathers' rights |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143704263.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103020806/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143704263.html |archive-date=2012-11-03 |access-date=2010-02-07 |work=Liverpool Daily Post}}{{cite web |date=2006-03-27 |title=Fathers start political party |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143725527.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019204854/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143725527.html |archive-date=2012-10-19 |access-date=2008-05-11 |work=Liverpool Echo}}{{cite web |date=2006-04-01 |title=New fathers' party formed |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-121055013.html |access-date=2008-05-11 |work=Birmingham Post}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

The party was led by retired Birmingham civil servant and trained priest Ray Barry, who claimed he had not been allowed to see two of his three children for years. He stated his desire for there to be "a presumption that separated parents remain jointly responsible for their children" and that he would "dearly love to see the churches more involved".{{Cite web |title=Ray Barry – Party Leader |url=http://www.equalparentingalliance.org/about-us/ray-barry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831214019/http://www.equalparentingalliance.org/about-us/ray-barry |archive-date=2018-08-31 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Equal Parenting Alliance}}{{Cite web |date=2012-10-12 |title=Fathers' rights activist cleared of harrassment |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/fathers-rights-activist-cleared-of-harrassment-64599 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}}

In the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Barry stood as a candidate in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency. He came last out of six candidates, with 0.4% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=2007 Election Results |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/2007-election-results |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Scottish Parliament |language=en}}

In the 2007 Runnymede Borough Council election, the party stood a candidate in Addlestone North ward. He came last out of five candidates, receiving 17 votes (1.4%).{{Cite web |title=Local Elections Archive Project - 2007 - Runnymede |url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2007/343/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.andrewteale.me.uk}}

In the 2008 Wolverhampton City Council election, the party Barry ran in the Tettenhall Wightwick ward. He came last out of four candidates, with 2.4% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=Local Elections Archive Project - 2008 - Wolverhampton |url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2008/63/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.andrewteale.me.uk}}

The party ran a candidate in the June 2009 by-election for the Woodham ward on Runnymede Borough Council. He came last out of four candidates, with 4.9% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=Local Elections Archive Project — Woodham Ward |url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/ward/4523/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.andrewteale.me.uk}}

In the 2010 United Kingdom general election, Barry ran as a candidate in Wolverhampton South West and Roger Crawford stood for the party in Oxford East. Barry came last out of five candidates with 0.6% of the vote and Crawford came last out of seven candidates with 0.1% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} Election 2010 {{!}} Constituency {{!}} Wolverhampton South West |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/f27.stm |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} Election 2010 {{!}} Constituency {{!}} Oxford East |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d47.stm |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}

On 6 November 2020, the party was deregistered with the Electoral Commission.{{Cite web |title=View registration - The Electoral Commission |url=https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP526 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}} It had 82 members in its final year of existence.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-18 |title=View statement of accounts - The Electoral Commission |url=https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Accounts/ST0022164 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}}

The party's policies included:{{Cite web |title=Our Policies |url=http://www.equalparentingalliance.org/policies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204034320/http://www.equalparentingalliance.org/policies |archive-date=2020-02-04 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Equal Parenting Alliance}}

• Legal presumption of reasonable parenting time for both parents in the event of parental separation.
• Shared residence should be normal when there are two fit, capable parents.
• All contact and parenting time arrangements will be governed by the Good Reason Principle.
• The introduction of the Early Interventions Pilot Project to replace the Family Resolutions Project.
• Compulsory mediation for both parents after separation and before entering into the court system.
• Open Family Courts, with all reporting to be anonymised to protect children from publicity
• Court orders for contact, parenting time and shared or joint residence, must be enforced by the courts unless there is good reason to do otherwise.
• All allegations of domestic violence or child abuse made during a child contact case should be made under oath, and dealt with quickly by a criminal court capable of delivering a clear verdict.
• Any parent who deliberately harms a child's relationship with either parent, without good reason, should be treated as being guilty of emotional and psychological abuse of the child.
• All fathers, regardless of marital status or naming on the birth certificate, to be given parental responsibility. Where paternity is in doubt, a DNA test must be used.
• Both parents must have access to a child's medical and educational records, and full involvement in school activities.
• Grandparents should have a legal right to apply for contact with their grandchildren.
• Custody being split equally for both parents and a non-residing parent should be able to spend up to 100 days and nights with their child.{{Cite news |last=Hinsliff |first=Gaby |author-link=Gaby Hinsliff |date=2004-07-11 |title=Equal custody for 'weekend dads' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/jul/11/childrensservices.politics |access-date=2008-05-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20200204032953/http://www.equalparentingalliance.org/ Equal Parenting Alliance website (archive)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070908001923/http://www.equal-parenting-scotland.com/ Equal Parenting Alliance Scottish website (archive)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080719175603/http://www.dadsontheair.net/Archives/2007/tabid/60/Default.aspx Equal Parenting Alliance leader Ray Barry speaking on family law on Australian "Dads on the Air" radio program]

Category:Gender equality

Category:Political parties in the United Kingdom

Category:Family and parenting issues groups in the United Kingdom

Category:Political parties established in 2006

Category:Fathers' rights organizations

Category:2006 establishments in the United Kingdom