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Christian Labour politicians join family debate
8th January 2010
Gordon Brown welcomes discussions by Christians on the left as Ed Balls set to speak on family and faith
Labour should talk more about families and marriage yet keep policy focused on family stability and tackling child poverty, say members of the Christian Socialist Movement. The Tory focus on a marriage tax allowance is misguided, they argue, because it would not treat people fairly.
Prime Minister and Labour leader, Gordon Brown, welcomed the debate started by CSM in its latest magazine, The Common Good , which put CSM ‘in the forefront of the debate.’
Christians have often focused on family issues. CSM has entered the debate in a week which saw the Conservatives uncertain about how committed they were to their own family policy. Labour is set to publish a Green Paper on the family in the near future.
The CSM magazine includes contributions from Financial Secretary and Labour Vice Chair for Faith, Stephen Timms MP, and Labour MP Andy Reed.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools, and Families, and theologian Dr Elaine Storkey, will continue the debate at CSM’s annual Tawney Dialogue in March. The theme will be Will the General Election make any difference to the family?’
Gordon Brown said:
“Labour is the Party of the family, and my priority has always been to ensure that each and every child gets the best possible start in life.
“CSM has put itself in the forefront of the debate and I'm delighted that Christians are being given this chance to contribute their thoughts on how we best support marriage and families across Britain. I particularly welcome the way contributors to The Common Good emphasise the ways Government has supported family stability, including through keeping unemployment down and tackling child poverty. My own faith has taught me that each child is born precious and unique, endowed with a contribution only they can make. It is my optimism about the boundless potential of each person, and the British people, that inspires me as we face this crucial decade for Britain.”
Andy Flannagan, CSM’s director, argued that:
“It is too easy for what should be the building block of our society to become instead a political football. These issues are always sensitive, but we need the maturity and grace to be able to debate such important issues as they are so essential to the cohesion of our society.
Stephen Beer, who co-wrote the lead article in The Common Good, said:
“Labour cannot afford to let the Right own the concept of the family, when it is something so important to all of us. Labour has a good record but we need to be more relaxed when talking about the family, including talking about marriage. It is possible to have an inclusive approach that does not stigmatise people, by focusing on family stability.”
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