Put Asunder

Peter Hitchens and Catherine Bennett are, if not at one, then certainly of a common mind: the Tories offer nothing in defence of marriage.

It is high time to entitle each divorcing spouse to one per cent of the other's estate for each year of marriage, up to fifty per cent, and to disentitle the petitioning spouse unless fault be proved.

It is high time to entitle any marrying couple (or couple married prior to this legislation's coming into effect) to register their marriage as bound by the law prior to 1969 as regards grounds and procedures for divorce, and to enable any religious organisation to specify that any marriage which it conducts shall be so bound, requiring it to counsel couples accordingly.

And it is high time to legislate that the Church of England be such a body unless the General Synod specifically resolve the contrary by a two-thirds majority in all three Houses, and to do something similar for the Methodist and United Reformed Churches, which also exist pursuant to Acts of Parliament, as well as by amendment to the legislation relating to the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy.

Do not vote for anyone who does not promise to propose this on the floor of the House at every opportunity until it is enacted, and to defend it utterly without compromise thereafter, or who, seeking re-election from the end of the next Parliament onwards, has failed to do so.

It looks as if rather a lot of candidate organisation is in order. Get to it.