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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Balls attacks Tory family plans | Balls attacks Tory family plans |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Conservative proposals for tax breaks for married couples are "unfair" and amount to "social engineering", Schools Secretary Ed Balls has said. | Conservative proposals for tax breaks for married couples are "unfair" and amount to "social engineering", Schools Secretary Ed Balls has said. |
| He told the Sunday Telegraph favouring married couples over those who are unmarried could stigmatise children. | He told the Sunday Telegraph favouring married couples over those who are unmarried could stigmatise children. |
| It comes ahead of the government's Families Green Paper this week, which will say services should support "the modern family in all shapes and sizes". | It comes ahead of the government's Families Green Paper this week, which will say services should support "the modern family in all shapes and sizes". |
| Tory leader David Cameron has restated plans to back marriage through taxes. | Tory leader David Cameron has restated plans to back marriage through taxes. |
| The Conservatives have been setting out plans to help families "who are not functioning properly" develop parenting skills and are planning to draw up their own families policy. | The Conservatives have been setting out plans to help families "who are not functioning properly" develop parenting skills and are planning to draw up their own families policy. |
| In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Mr Cameron renewed his pledge for a married couples' tax break. | In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Mr Cameron renewed his pledge for a married couples' tax break. |
| He told the newspaper that "a stable home is the best start a child can get". | He told the newspaper that "a stable home is the best start a child can get". |
| 'Key phrase' | 'Key phrase' |
| However, how and when the policy would be introduced remains unclear. | However, how and when the policy would be introduced remains unclear. |
| In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Balls said he believes marriage is the best way to bring up children. | In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Balls said he believes marriage is the best way to bring up children. |
| However, he said trying to socially engineer family life through tax policy is "hugely expensive and unfair". | However, he said trying to socially engineer family life through tax policy is "hugely expensive and unfair". |
| BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the reference to the "modern family in all shapes and sizes" was a "key phrase" for Mr Balls, who she described as "a supporter of clear dividing lines between Labour and the Tories". | BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the reference to the "modern family in all shapes and sizes" was a "key phrase" for Mr Balls, who she described as "a supporter of clear dividing lines between Labour and the Tories". |
| The schools secretary recently said stable relationships are more important than the "family's structure", adding that fathers need support in playing a bigger role in families. | The schools secretary recently said stable relationships are more important than the "family's structure", adding that fathers need support in playing a bigger role in families. |
| Emotional well-being | Emotional well-being |
| Plans to be set out in the Families Green Paper will propose better advice and information for couples and address the balance between work and childcare by considering ways to make public services more "family friendly". | |
| There will also be targeted support for groups with particular needs, such as very young parents and parents of disabled children. | There will also be targeted support for groups with particular needs, such as very young parents and parents of disabled children. |
| Under the Green Paper, new fathers will be given a manual to help them adjust to the role. | |
| The "dads' guide", put together by the Fatherhood Institute, will include an explanation of breastfeeding and tips on how to support their partner. | |
| Last year, the government gave extra money to the counselling service Relate and will unveil plans for more support for fathers and grandparents later this week. | |
| Three leading relationship organisations - Relate, One Plus One and The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships - recently warned politicians that relationships between adults should be centre-stage in setting policy. | Three leading relationship organisations - Relate, One Plus One and The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships - recently warned politicians that relationships between adults should be centre-stage in setting policy. |
| Family relationship problems were often the root of difficulties with children's achievement at school and emotional well-being, they said. | Family relationship problems were often the root of difficulties with children's achievement at school and emotional well-being, they said. |
| Research from the government-funded Family and Parenting Institute recently forecast the death of the nuclear family, saying there was no longer one predominant structure. | Research from the government-funded Family and Parenting Institute recently forecast the death of the nuclear family, saying there was no longer one predominant structure. |
| It found that 45% of babies are now born outside of marriage - and increasing rates of divorce, re-marriage and co-habitation mean that one in 10 families with children are now step-families. | It found that 45% of babies are now born outside of marriage - and increasing rates of divorce, re-marriage and co-habitation mean that one in 10 families with children are now step-families. |