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ANGRY DADS

New Fathers 4 Justice campaigners finally end rooftop protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s home

Dads satisfied they have made their point after all day holdout as they clamber down at 10.30pm

Corbyn

DEMONSTRATORS have ended their protest on top of Jeremy Corbyn’s home after raising awareness at not being able to see their children.

The two men, from the New Fathers 4 Justice pressure group, say they are angry with the Labour leader for his stance on shared parenting and want him to do more to challenge PM Theresa May on the issue.

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Protesters scaled the roof of Jeremy Corbyn's home at 10am on Friday morningCredit: SWNS
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Martin Mathews (L) and Bobby Smith (R) on the roof of Jeremy Corbyn's home protesting about childcareCredit: SWNS
Jeremy Corbyn protesters
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Martin Matthews is serenading Theresa May from the roof of Jeremy Corbyn's homeCredit: SWNS

Father-of-two Bobby Smith, who has not seen his two daughters for five years, said: “I tried to talk to Jeremy in March and he was very rude to me, I wanted to talk to him about his role in blocking shared parenting of 50/50 contact back in 2011.

"He was part of a panel which blocked The Children and Families Act 2014."

The 34-year-old added that the police closed the Islington street after he climbed onto Corbyn’s house by using a ladder at about 10am on Friday.

12 hours later they ended their protest, with Smith tweeting: "Point made, we are coming down from Jeremy Corbyns roof. Thank you for all the support."

His co-protester Martin Matthews, 49, from Great Bookham, Surrey, was serenading Theresa May as part of his protest.

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A police car is visible outside Jeremy Corbyn's house as Bobby Smith (pictured) and Martin Matthews stage their rooftop protestCredit: SWNS
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The dads rights protesters who climbed on Jeremy Corbyn's roof have "no problem" with the Labour leader, according to their supporters.

Will Simpson travelled from Surrey to support the two activists who climbed onto the Islington North MP's home to demonstrate about fathers' rights.

The 37-year-old said he had been involved with the group, New Fathers 4 Justice, for six years after fighting a custody battle in court.

He said: "It's to raise awareness, to show the family law courts are corrupt.

"It's no problem with Corbyn, it's just a good platform to get the message out."

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Police have cordoned off the road where Jeremy Corbyn lives because of the two protesters on his roofCredit: SWNS
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An ambulance incident response car is seen near the road where Jeremy Corbyn lives as two demonstrators are protesting on his roofCredit: SWNS

Similar demonstrations have been held by the group at Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's home, Buckingham Palace and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling's house, he said.

Mr Simpson continued: "There needs to be a complete reform. It doesn't work, social services doesn't work. The Family Law courts system don't work. Most children end up in care and end up having problems themselves."

 

Jeremy Corbyn was not in at the time and was in Swansea, Wales last night attending a rally to fire up support for his leadership campaign.

New Fathers 4 Justice are not associated with Matt O'Connor or Fathers4Justice UK.

 


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