Families at heart of political agenda

In a speech to revitalise his big society agenda, Cameron today (23 May) said that "strong families are the foundation of a bigger, stronger society".

He also reiterated an election pledge to make the UK "the most family friendly in Europe", citing the government’s recent review on flexible working and parental leave.

In addition, he promised "radical new ideas for supporting parents" in the forthcoming early years strategy.    

Welfare reforms will also help families, he pledged, reiterating his belief that the proposed universal credit outlined in the Welfare Reform Bill will end the "marginal rates of taxation that have punished single mothers who want to work".

However, this is a claim that has been rejected by the single parent charity Gingerbread in research published this week with think tank The Resolution Foundation.

This estimates that single parents on the minimum wage will earn just £7.50 week more by switching from one to two days work a week. A switch from three to four days a week of work will bring in just £3 extra a week under the universal credit, their research claims.

Unite has criticised Cameron’s speech and questioned the government’s track record of helping charities to become more involved in public service delivery and community work.

National officer Rachael Maskell said: "Charities face a £4.5bn chasm in funding that his government has inflicted."
 
Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband chose to focus on young people in a speech today aimed at winning back disillusioned Labour voters.

He claimed "the next generation are bearing so much of the burden of deficit reduction" and called on the government to do more to combat youth unemployment.

The abolition of the education maintenance allowance as well as welfare reforms were among the coalition government policies he criticised.

Miliband added: "They are making damaging changes in the tax system, with double the burden on families with children compared to those without.

"If it's harder for families to get by, harder to be a parent, that's not just bad for them but for Britain."

Earlier this month the government announced a £60m package of measures to reduce youth unemployment, including a £10m fund for charities that support unemployed young people.