HOME & FAMILY

The home is a defining idea for conservatives - standing for family, ownership and social justice. The breakdown of the family is the root cause of many of Britain's social problems. It explains the inadequate socialisation of a growing number of children, and the loneliness and neglect of the very old. Government has not been an innocent bystander as family life has been eroded. Many public policies have discouraged the aspiration to marry. Other policies penalise the decision to sacrifice 'paid work' for full-time parenthood. It is not impossible to be compassionate towards 'alternative family structures' and, at the same time, strengthen the traditional family. Unfortunately, few policymakers have even tried to reconcile these two goals.

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The home is a defining idea for conservatives

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Warm, secure homes stand at the heart of the British idea of fairness

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The extended family protects the nuclear family and links nuclear families with wider community life

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At the heart of the nuclear and extended families - and at the heart of society itself - is the institution of marriage

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Family breakdown hurts children

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Children benefit from the full-time care of one of their parents

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Cultural change has undermined the family and much of this change has been encouraged by government policies

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Public policy should provide a fair deal to ‘alternative families’ – without undermining sustainable families

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Government policies can help protect the family and encourage the aspiration to marry and have children

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Without a higher birth rate western society faces a serious demographic timebomb

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