Britney Spears' father to step down as conservator 'when the time is right'

ITV News Correspondent Geraint Vincent on Britney Spears father stepping down as controller of his daughter’s personal affairs and money.

Britney Spears' father has suggested his intention to step down as her conservator, but has not revealed when he intends to do so.

For most of the existence of the conservatorship, which was established in 2008, James Spears oversaw his daughter’s personal affairs and money.

Following ongoing attempts by the singer to remove her father from the role, and a prominent #FreeBritney campaign, Mr Spears has said he will step down once several issues are resolved. 

Filed legal documents, saying that while there are no grounds for his removal, stated: "Mr. Spears continues to serve dutifully, and he should not be suspended or removed, and certainly not based on false allegations.

"Mr. Spears is willing to step down when the time is right, but the transition needs to be orderly and include a resolution of matters pending before the Court."

Co-founder of the Free Britney LA movement Leanne Simmons says it is so important the next conservator is "someone that Britney and her lawyer choose."

Although some fans have been celebrating, co-founder of the Free Britney LA movement Leanne Simmons, says the lack of clarity on the timing of when he will step down from the conservatorship is concerning.

Speaking to ITV News, she said: "I think it is definitely a step in the right direction. This is the first time we have heard that Jamie will be willing to step down in the future.

"I don't think this is the huge victory that it is being touted as in the mainstream media because at the end of this document he asks the court to deny the petition to remove him from the conservatorship.

"There is no time frame, we don't know when he will be removed so because of that it is hard to celebrate today's filing."

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The documents say that Mr Spears has been "the unremitting target of unjustified attacks" but "he does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests."

The filing says Mr Spears will fight the petition to force him out, but will work with the court and Britney Spears’ attorney Matthew Rosengart on the next phases.

"We are pleased that Mr. Spears and his lawyer have today conceded in a filing that he must be removed," Rosengart said in a statement.

"It is vindication for Britney."

In July Britney Spears revealed she wanted her father charged with conservatorship abuse.

Speaking to the packed court room over the phone, the singer listed a series of grievances against the conservatorship, alleging she had been required to use an intrauterine device for birth control, take medications against her will and prevented from getting married, having another child or even riding in her boyfriend’s car unsupervised.

Britney told Judge Brenda Penny: "Ma’am, that’s not abuse, that’s just f****** cruelty.

"Excuse my language but it’s the truth."

In the recent filing James Spears defended his decision to put his daughter under a conservatorship in 2008.

The documents say: "When this Conservatorship was initiated 13 years ago, Britney Jean Spears was in crisis, desperately in need of help.

"Not only was she suffering mentally and emotionally, she was also being manipulated by predators and in financial distress.

"Mr. Spears came to his daughter’s rescue to protect her, and this Court made the determination that the protection provided by a conservatorship was necessary and in Ms. Spears’ best interests.”Leanne Simmons says it is so important the next conservator is "someone that Britney and her lawyer choose."

She said: "The ultimate goal is for her to not have a conservatorship at all, I am hopeful that will happen soon.

"In the meantime there will be a transition process and I want to see someone who is well vetted, a professional and someone who has experience handling an estate of this size but most importantly someone that Britney and her lawyer choose.

At the end of the day whether or not Jamie is abusive, if you put all of that aside the conservatee wants a different conservator. It's as simple as that.

"If we are all acting in the conservatee's best interests, we should give her a new conservator as she has requested.

"So that's what I think will be the next step. Get Jamie out and hopefully get a professional in so that we can move forward with terminating the entire arrangement."