Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Bramley Affair: A case that gripped Britain

The Pundits

Sunday 17 January 1999 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian: "Although they are effectively hostage- takers, the Bramleys have had the luck to be seen as love terrorists, fighters for family freedom... Short of announcing Saddam Hussein was seeking to conscript their children into the Republican Guard, no English parent could have picked an enemy more likely to win you friends than the social services."

Nicci Gerrard, The Observer: "In this wretched affair we glimpse a portrait of modern Britain, in which a dysfunctional family, the shameless and hypocritical media and the cornered social services compete for the sympathy of the public and the lives of two sweet-faced girls, effectively ruining their futures."

Norman Tebbit, The Mail on Sunday: "I think Ms Liz Railton, the director of Cambridgeshire's department [of social services] deserves a word or two of praise... I admire her for putting the welfare of the children first and her dignity second."

Melanie Phillips, The Sunday Times: "The council has now said the decision will be left to the courts. But ... social services departments are notoriously unwilling to promote adoption, preferring to keep control through fostering placements. Adoption has become politically incorrect. ...The whole system is a mess of professional malevolence and incompetence."

Ann Treneman, The Independent: "Everyone...believes what they are doing is for `the sake of the children'... This is misleading... Jade is five. Hannah is three. They did not write this letter. [To the media begging to be allowed to stay together]. Grown ups wrote this letter, just as grown ups created this mess."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in