When a marriage breaks down in the UK, nine times out of ten the man gets the short straw. After actor John Cleese's eye-watering £12.5m divorce settlement this week that left him poorer than his ex-wife, lawyers say it is high time UK divorce laws were given a revamp.

Several high-profile cases this year have suggested the divorce scales are balanced in the favour of women. In April, City tycoon Brian Myerson failed to renegotiate his divorce settlement downwards after seeing his assets plunge in value because of the economic downturn.