As a stepfather who wholeheartedly took on the responsibility of raising a child, I witnessed firsthand the heart-breaking exploitation of legal loopholes. The child's biological father dodged financial responsibility by sheltering behind a limited company, thus escaping fair child maintenance payments. The child was left with insufficient support, a plight quietly suffered by countless others across our nation.

This situation is unfortunately a long-standing problem, affecting thousands of families across the UK. The Child Support Agency data 2013-2019 reveals that an alarming 7.4% of parents due to pay support have managed to evade their responsibilities entirely by declaring a nominal income through self-employment or limited companies (source: House of Commons Library).

Our proposal is a revision in the calculation of child maintenance payments. Those who are self-employed, or hiding behind limited companies, must be obligated to pay a minimum of £50 per week for the fixed term of 18 years. This represents a fairer contribution towards the substantial costs of raising a child, estimated at approximately £75,000 by the Child Poverty Action Group.

We ask for immediate action to amend the existing law to close this glaring loophole. It is high time to ensure that every child receives the financial assistance they are entitled to, regardless of their parents' employment status. Please sign this petition to voice solidarity with the children who are unjustly left abandoned by the system.