PM hypocrisy on runaway dads revealed say activists

The call followed the Prime Minister's comments on Father's Day last Sunday that absent dads should be "stigmatised" by society.

Campaigners accused him of "doublespeak" as only a few days earlier his government had voted through the Welfare Reform Bill, which make the Child Support Agency charge mothers £100 up front for chasing irresponsible fathers.

The agency will then take a commission of up to 12 per cent for collecting the money.

Fiona Weir of the Gingerbread charity said that if Mr Cameron really cared about single parents he should "withdraw these damaging proposals."

Families Need Fathers chief Ken Sanderson warned that the PM's remarks risked casting all separated fathers as irresponsible, even though many wish to see their children but are prevented from doing so.

He urged Mr Cameron to support a private member's Bill which aims to introduce a presumption of shared parenting in law for separating parents adding it would: "send out a message to all parents that they are equally responsible for their child's wellbeing post-separation."