PM under fire over charges for CSA search

David Cameron is under fire after calling for fathers who abandon their families to be "stigmatised" by society in the same way as drink drivers.

The Prime Minister signalled a new onslaught on "runaway dads", saying they should be made to feel the "full force of shame" for their actions.

However, campaigners warned that efforts to hold fathers responsible for their families were being undermined by government plans to charge mothers who use the Child Support Agency to collect money they are owed.

"David Cameron is right that single mums - and indeed single dads - do a heroic job," said Fiona Weir, chief executive of single parents' charity Gingerbread.

"But those same parents are about to have government support ripped away from them if they need help securing child maintenance payments from their child's other parent."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused Mr Cameron, below, of offering "hollow words" when the government was withdrawing support for families.

"David Cameron's claim to support families and crack down on runaway dads is utterly disingenuous," she said.

"His government is making it much easier for deadbeat dads to run from their responsibilities by charging mums to use the Child Support Agency."