Catherine Thomas debates the need for no-fault divorce on BBC Radio 2 ===================================================================== ![Catherine Thomas debates the need for no-fault divorce on BBC Radio 2](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/bcf1fa1fc14ed42cd30b2fb87bd5b2a8.png)This morning Vardags Managing Director Catherine Thomas was called in to the BBC Radio 2 studios to discuss no-fault divorce on the Jeremy Vine show. A long-term advocate for no-fault divorce and supporter of the Family Law Reform campaign, Catherine debated the issue with Thomas Pascoe of the Coalition for Marriage, a Christian pressure group staunchly against the proposed change to the law. The guest-host Paddy O'Connell introduced the issue, explaining that no-fault divorce campaigners considered the current system in England and Wales to be flawed and antiquated because of the need for couples to apportion blame should they want to divorce. Catherine and Thomas disagreed on both counts about having both time and blame built into the system with Thomas arguing that change would weaken the institution of marriage. Catherine in turn explained that she sees cases all the time where "civilized correspondence... becomes aggressive" because "the legal system requires it" of people. She argued this contention makes it much harder for couples to effectively co-parent, and contrary to Thomas' attestations suggested that "if people didn't have to start the process with this mudslinging the more people might actually stay together". The differences in opinion pivoted to a large degree on a value judgment about marital breakdown with Thomas implicitly adhering to the view that one of the parties must be to blame: "I think you'll find that the innocent party in a marriage - not the one trying to break it up, appreciates having the full court system in place because it is the only opportunity they get to show that they were loyal to their marriage vows." In response Catherine affirmed that everyone would be better off if the divorce process was able to start without "a huge amount of conflict". Read more about our [top lawyers for no fault divorces](https://vardags.com/law-guide/basic-principles/no-fault-divorce) and how they cater for HNW and UHNW individuals. "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) Articles by Thea Dunne ---------------------- [Top judge throws out 21 divorce petitions issued by fraudster barrister](https://vardags.com/family-law/21-fraudulent-divorce-petitions-cancelled "Top judge throws out 21 divorce petitions issued by fraudster barrister") [Catherine Thomas discusses sexual harassment in the workplace on BBC Radio 5 Live](https://vardags.com/posts/catherine-thomas-discusses-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-on-bbc-radio-5-live "Catherine Thomas discusses sexual harassment in the workplace on BBC Radio 5 Live") [Catherine Thomas debates the need for no-fault divorce on BBC Radio 2](https://vardags.com/posts/catherine-thomas-no-fault-divorce-bbc-radio-2 "Catherine Thomas debates the need for no-fault divorce on BBC Radio 2") [Piers Pressdee QC on private children law and domestic abuse](https://vardags.com/family-law/piers-pressdee-qc-private-children-law "Piers Pressdee QC on private children law and domestic abuse") [Questioning jurisdiction and property in Birch v Birch](https://vardags.com/family-law/jurisdiction-property-birch-v-birch "Questioning jurisdiction and property in Birch v Birch")