We Must Back All Parents Without Making Judgments, Says Chancellor
Gordon Brown has attempted to draw a clear division between himself and David Cameron over family policy, yesterday arguing that it was not the state’s job to make “ideological judgments” such as rewarding marriage with tax breaks.
{mosimage}The chancellor, under pressure to outline his position on help for parents after the Conservative leader promised to use taxes to promote marriage, told an audience of parents that the government had a duty to support all families “in whatever circumstances” they found themselves.
Mr Brown said government should offer “practical, sustained help, whenever and wherever families need it … rather than making ideological judgments about which types of family or children should or shouldn’t get help”.
The chancellor, whom campaigners for better work-life balances hope will address the growing pressure for new ideas on families and work, also unveiled plans for a labelling system to help parents protect their children from “inappropriate material” on games, films and websites.
Citing the prevalence and diversity of technology as key to the “pressure culture” affecting children, he said the scheme would help parents to exercise the control they wanted. Ofcom had backed a scheme to provide common labelling standards on content across the media.
Read More