Fathers4Justice to stand in Hartlepool

Fathers' action group Fathers4Justice is planning to field a candidate against Labour in the Hartlepool byelection.The controversial organisation, which launched a flour attack on the prime minister in the House of Commons in June, has decided to adopt a more constitutional approach by challenging the Labour candidate in Peter Mandelson's old seat.

The group's management committee decided on Monday to field the candidate in the election which will take place on September 30, the last day of the Labour party conference.

If the campaign is successful it could lead to more than 200 Fathers4Justice candidates challenging Labour in marginal seats at the next general election.

Matt O'Connor, the spokesman for Fathers4Justice, said: "We will see how it goes in Hartlepool - we will use it to cut our teeth and see how we go on.

"At the very least we would like to see 200 candidates across the UK."

The group is calling for equal rights for fathers in child contact cases after divorce or separation.

"Our position is we will be actively campaigning in Hartlepool against any candidate that does not support the presumption of shared parenting," said Mr O'Connor. "We will encourage parties not to vote Labour and Liberal Democrat at the byelection. Labour is now our No 1 target.

"We are shifting our fire power now towards the Labour party and the Labour party machine."

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT