Letter: Women desert children too

I WAS infuriated to read Alistair Darling's definition of absent fathers. If the Government is beginning to "get home to men that you cannot bring children into this world then walk off and leave them to somebody else", then how does it intend to get over to women that you cannot bring children into this world then walk off and deny them a father?

And if, as Mr Darling states, fathers have "a responsibility that endures their entire life" then how does the Government intend to get this message over to the women who walk off with their children, denying the absent father the right to live up to this responsibility, or the opportunity to take any role at all in the social and spiritual well-being of their children?

J C PLANT

South Shields, Tyne & Wear