New support for families in Labour manifesto

Help for all families contrasts with Conservative plans

Labour's election manifesto contains new measures to support families.  There will be a 'Father's Month' of paid leave and a new Toddler Tax Credit of £4 per month from 2012 for all parents of young children.

Conservative claims they can support marriage through the tax system cannot substitute for a comprehensive policy on the family, argues the Christian Socialist Movement. CSM, which represents Christians on the Left of politics says that Labour is right to promote family stability and help for the poorest families. 

"Christians support marriage and that will always be important," said Stephen Beer, CSM's political communications officer.  "When it comes to public policy, the best way of doing that is by helping family stability. Christians will also want resources to be directed to those families which need most help, without judging people in different situations."

CSM has been in the forefront of the family policy debate this year. It hosted a debate with Ed Balls, cabinet minister for Children, Schools, and Families last month. CSM's latest magazine focuses on family matters and includes contributions from Treasury minister Stephen Timms and MP Andy Reed.

The Conservative Party says that if it wins the election it will allow some married couples to transfer part of their personal tax allowance between each other. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has calculated that this would be worth up to £150 at most.

The IFS concludes that "the incentives to marry (or not to divorce) provided by a policy whose maximum benefit is £150 a year must surely be weak relative to the other costs and benefits involved."

Conservative proposals are not particularly focused on couples with children, where stable families are essential. Couples with both people working on low incomes will not benefit.  The majority of married couples will not benefit, according to the IFS.  There is not even strong evidence on how much effect financial incentives have on the decision to marry.

Moreover, the proposals would disadvantage people whose spouse had died or whose marriage had failed through no fault of their own, regardless of any children involved.

CSM members have supported Labour's focus on tackling child poverty and helping parents through Sure Start. Labour's manifesto builds on this by recognising that strong families form "the bedrock of our society".

CSM Director Andy Flannagan said "What matters is supporting families across all policy areas and helping those in particular need.  Policies that extend paternity leave, keep unemployment down, and help new parents help support marriages and all families."

CSM has posted a range of articles on the family here.