|
Will the General Election make any difference to the family? That was the question the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM) asked Secretary of State for Children, Schools and the Family Ed Balls MP at its Tawney Dialogue on 10 March.
His comments were made to the backdrop of a Bible Society poll showing that 79% of the public think it is better for a child's quality of life to live with two parents rather than one. Nearly half of people polled (45%) also said they agreed that generally, it is better for those parents to be married rather than cohabiting.
"Our policy is based on morality and justice", said Balls, who was speaking alongside Ann Holt from the Bible Society and author and theologian Elaine Storkey. Seeking to defend the Government's record on the family, he went on to say that "at its centre are family and strong relationships".
Balls accepted that the Government's focus on improving the wellbeing of children had unintentionally sidelined the importance of parental relationships. He said "supporting families is a good in itself". The Secretary of State rejected Conservative plans to provide incentives for marriage in the tax system but accepted that, "once you start thinking about relationships it changes your thinking about public policy."
However, in her opening comments Ann Holt suggested that the "state must undertake actions that motivate and encourage upholding stable families". In addition, she commented that marriage is a public institution and a way of strengthening families; consequently there is an "obligation to back what is good for the optimal society".
Elaine Storkey recommended that while the Government cannot redeem the family they can and must create the frame work for this redemption. This, she suggested was a challenge in "an era of contempt for anything that doesn't value autonomy".
Director of the Christian Socialist Movement, Andy Flannagan, said: "It is too easy for what should be the building block of our society to become a political football. Christians need to make their voices heard in this important debate, but we need to have an inclusive approach that does not stigmatise people."
|
Share
EAUK.org
