oct 22, 1969 - Divorce reforms

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Prior to the act, divorce laws favoured the husband. In which, if a woman wanted to divorce her husband, she had to prove he was an adulterer, drinker, was insane, or had deserted the women, Wilson felt like this did not sit with his 'white heat' and so had to change. Jenkins allowed time for debates of divorce in the Commons, giving the bill every chance of success. The bill was passed in 1969. A marriage could now end without emphasising on whose fault it was. If both partners agreed, a divorce could be allowed after two years; if one wanted a divorce, it would be allowed after seven years. Within two years of the law coming into being, the number of divorces doubled.