Senior government minister to debate family issues with Christians on the left

“Will the General Election make any difference to the family?” asks the Christian Socialist Movement

Following his Green Paper on the Family, Secretary of State Ed Balls will discuss family with top theologian and advisor to relationships think tank

When Ed Balls meets with the Christian Socialist Movement to discuss family issues, he will be meeting with an organisation that Gordon Brown believes is ‘in the forefront of the debate’. The Secretary of State for Children, Schools, and Families has just published the government’s Green Paper on the family as the two main political parties battle to show they are the most family friendly. Mr Balls will take part in CSM’s annual Tawney Dialogue.

Churches and Christian groups have always seen the family as important and have often campaigned on family issues. The Christian Socialist Movement (CSM), representing Christians in the Labour Party, has entered the debate to give a different perspective to the mood music coming from the Conservative Party. Director Andy Flannagan said: “It is too easy for what should be the building block of our society to become a political football. We want people to see the big picture and focus on policies which promote family stability, including marriages. Christians need to make their voices heard in this important debate but we need to have an inclusive approach that does not stigmatise people.”

CSM’s latest magazine, The Common Good, also focuses on the family. Treasury minister Stephen Timms attacks the Conservative tax proposals on marriage, while other contributors look at how to help keep families stable. Their message is that Labour should talk more about families and marriage, yet keep policy focused on family stability and tackling child poverty. The Tory focus on a marriage tax allowance is misguided because it would not treat people fairly.

The Tawney Dialogue will hear contributions from Elaine Storkey, a broadcaster, author, and theologian, and from Ann Holt, Director of Programme at the Bible Society. It will be held on 10 March at 6:30pm, at Westminster Central Hall. After Mr Balls has responded, the audience will take part in what is likely to be stimulating debate.

The Tawney Dialogue is named after RH Tawney (1880-1962), a leading Christian Socialist and Labour Party member of the last century. Tawney Lectures and Dialogues have been running since 1992 on a variety of topics from a Christian Left perspective.

The Christian Socialist Movement is a large group of Christians affiliated to the British Labour Party, including over 40 members in the House of Commons and House of Lords including the current Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the former Prime Minister Tony Blair.