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The idea that the public don’t support politicians who talk candidly about the important role of families in tackling poverty is a myth right up there with the faked moon landings and Elvis lives. We’ve known for years that family breakdown increases poverty, we now know that the public support policies that tackle family breakdown.
Children in families that break apart are more than twice as likely to experience long term poverty and repeat the poverty they grew up in. Government research in this area is just as stark. Children from stable families tend to do better at school are overwhelmingly less likely to be involved with the criminal justice system and have better employment outcomes than children from families where high level of parental conflict and relationship break up is the norm. So why is there still a reluctance to make tackling family breakdown the centrepiece of a poverty fighting strategy?
Our results challenge the misconception which says the public are strongly antipathetic about the family. Any reluctance to discuss family is an entirely ‘Westminster Village’ based concern not supported by the attitudes of voters on this issue. More than eight out of ten adults (81 per cent) think that ‘stronger families and improved parenting are important in addressing Britain’s social problems’.
One noticeable trend of our polling is a general increase in support for strong pro-family messages alongside government activity (or spending) in this area as part of a wider government approach to tackling poverty, and pitched in social justice terms. More than three quarters of young adults aged 18- 24 agree that a ‘strong family life is important for children growing up in poverty’, a figure which leaps to 93 per cent of voters over 65. These numbers should be enough to make our politicians think again and get back in step with public views on the family.
One of the biggest myths of all is that talking about helping families to stay together somehow stigmatises lone parents. This myth is well and truly busted when we actually polled lone parents. They think it’s best for children to grow up with both parents (62 per cent), think governments should promote marriage (57 per cent) and welcome politicians saying ‘stability matters for children’ (86 per cent).
It shouldn’t be a ‘political taboo’ to talk confidently about how we can support families to stay together, especially for children growing up in our poorest areas where the costs of family breakdown fall disproportionality. Our political class need to get over their reluctance to talk about this issue and find a way of articulating support for families in social justice terms. The evidence from our polling is that the voters would overwhelmingly support such an approach.
The Centre for Social Justice and Marriage Foundation are hosting a fringe event at Conservative Party Conference Chaired by Spectator Editor, Fraser Nelson: ‘Britain’s Family Breakdown Crisis: why it matters and what we can do about it?’ Tuesday 3rd October, 12.45pm – 2pm, Trafford Room (The Midland Hotel).
Also by Frank Young
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