Divorce law reforms will lead to a spike in the number of marriages ending, the Justice Secretary has told MPs.

David Gauke said it is “time to end the blame game” as MPs approved the bill at its second reading in the House of Commons today - which means that changes to the law increasingly likely.

MPs are debating a Bill which will reform the current fault-based system for divorce in a bid to reduce conflict between partners. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill removes the need to find fault in order to start proceedings immediately.

However Mr Gauke told MPs that while the changes are likely to lead to an initial spike in the divorce

rate, they would soon level off again.

He said: “There will be, for example, people who currently are waiting for two or five years for a divorce and that divorce will be brought forward.

“So, the likelihood is there will be an increase because of, if you like, that waiting list. But the international evidence suggests that once that initial spike has been dealt with – in a steady state – the divorce rate is unlikely to increase and it is likely to remain much the same.”