Rejected petition Keep families together: reform family law to prioritise reunification

Reform family law to strengthen early support and legal safeguards for families facing care proceedings. Families should be given every opportunity to reunite, with adoption without parental consent used only in circumstances where nothing else will do.

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Prioritising safe reunification protects children’s wellbeing, identity and long-term stability. The permanent removal of a child is one of the most serious actions the State can take and has lifelong consequences. Many families report limited access to meaningful early support, particularly for mental health, addiction and domestic abuse. Greater investment in preventative services is needed to reduce unnecessary separation and ensure adoption without consent is truly a last resort.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.

We are not sure how the request of this petition would differ from current practice.

You may be interested in this petition which calls for a related action:

Review accountability for incorrect decisions regarding the removal of a child
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/737148

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 22 February 2026
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