Originally published @ 9:55 am, Sat 23rd Jan 2010
Polly Toynbee has published a withering article on this Tory initiative – one which Tory spokespeople like Caroline Spelman still don’t know how to explain.
First main argument is that the costs of weddings, and the huge costs of divorces means any initiative to make a significant difference has to be expensive - something the Tories don’t actually want to spend on.
Then, such a proposal is bound to be unfair, because there are just too many scenarios where a loss of such an allowance would punish a deserving parent.
Third key argument is that deprivation is a bigger factor in indicating problems, than extent of marriage.
The Tories have been teased that just like right-wing parties across the world, they want to shrink the state to be just small enough to fit into people’s bedrooms.
They have also been teased about Kenneth Clarke’s bewail of Tories having a policy that is social engineering.
But we know that we in the Labour Party are trying to improve society by directing money, help and support to those most in need and to families, and to bringing children on.
We know too that there are values and codes of mutual responsibility (e.g. respect) that are needed to make any such policy successful. And those codes are more easily accepted and understood in societies that are more equal.
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