The tax system should reward married couples, a cabinet minister has said.
The tax system should reward married couples, a cabinet minister has said.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Andy Burnham told the Daily Telegraph: "It's not wrong that the tax system should recognise commitment and marriage."
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Andy Burnham told the Daily Telegraph: "It's not wrong that the tax system should recognise commitment and marriage."
He did not advocate specific changes to the tax system, but said there was a "moral case" for using tax to promote the traditional family unit.
He did not advocate specific changes to the tax system, but said there was a "moral case" for using tax to promote the traditional family unit.
His comments come a few weeks after the Tories pledged to change the tax system to encourage couples to marry.
His comments come a few weeks after the Tories pledged to change the tax system to encourage couples to marry.
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said in the current climate, where Labour has adopted elements of Tory ideas on inheritance tax, the comments could be seen as the government trying to broaden its appeal.
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said in the current climate, where Labour has adopted elements of Tory ideas on inheritance tax, the comments could be seen as the government trying to broaden its appeal.
This is further confirmation that we are in command of the agenda in British politics and the government doesn't know whether it is coming or going Shadow Chancellor George Osborne
This is further confirmation that we are in command of the agenda in British politics and the government doesn't know whether it is coming or going Shadow Chancellor George Osborne
Mr Burnham, who is married with three children, said: "I don't seek to preach to anybody. But in an abstract way I think it's better when children are in a home where their parents are married, and I think children do notice if their parents are married or not."
Mr Burnham, who is married with three children, said: "I don't seek to preach to anybody. But in an abstract way I think it's better when children are in a home where their parents are married, and I think children do notice if their parents are married or not."
He added: "I don't think the Tories should have a monopoly on this kind of thinking. This is totally where Gordon (prime minister Gordon Brown) is coming from, your roots and your family are everything."
He added: "I don't think the Tories should have a monopoly on this kind of thinking. This is totally where Gordon (prime minister Gordon Brown) is coming from, your roots and your family are everything."
The Conservatives are yet to give detailed proposals, but a policy group led by former leader Iain Duncan Smith recently suggested a range of proposals including a transferable married couples tax allowance, worth around £20 a week.
The Conservatives are yet to give detailed proposals, but a policy group led by former leader Iain Duncan Smith recently suggested a range of proposals including a transferable married couples tax allowance, worth around £20 a week.
The idea of tax breaks to support marriage has previously been criticised by Labour ministers who said it would discriminate against children with separated parents.
The idea of tax breaks to support marriage has previously been criticised by Labour ministers who said it would discriminate against children with separated parents.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown quoted the Bible in what was seen as criticism of the approach in his address to the Labour Party conference earlier this month.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown quoted the Bible in what was seen as criticism of the approach in his address to the Labour Party conference earlier this month.
Andy Burnham said his comments were personal views
Andy Burnham said his comments were personal views
"I say to the children of two-parent families, one-parent families, foster parent families; to the widow bringing up children: I stand for a Britain that supports as first-class citizens not just some children and some families but supports all children and all families," he said.
"I say to the children of two-parent families, one-parent families, foster parent families; to the widow bringing up children: I stand for a Britain that supports as first-class citizens not just some children and some families but supports all children and all families," he said.
"We all remember that biblical saying: 'suffer the little children to come unto me'. No Bible I have ever read says: 'bring just some of the children'."
"We all remember that biblical saying: 'suffer the little children to come unto me'. No Bible I have ever read says: 'bring just some of the children'."
A source close to Mr Burnham said that he was not signalling a departure from government policy, but was instead expressing personal views.
A source close to Mr Burnham said that he was not signalling a departure from government policy, but was instead expressing personal views.
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said: "For two years, David Cameron has been making the case for recognising marriage in the tax system and Gordon Brown has been attacking him for it.
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said: "For two years, David Cameron has been making the case for recognising marriage in the tax system and Gordon Brown has been attacking him for it.
"Now one of his minions appears to say we are right.
"Now one of his minions appears to say we are right.
"This is further confirmation that we are in command of the agenda in British politics and the government doesn't know whether it is coming or going."
"This is further confirmation that we are in command of the agenda in British politics and the government doesn't know whether it is coming or going."
What do you think? Should the tax system reward marriage? Is there a "moral case" for using tax to promote the traditional family unit? Or will it discriminate against children with separated parents? Send us your comment using the form below.
