Modernisers and Marriage
In an otherwise excellent report on Conservative Home on Iain Duncan Smith’s superb analysis of social breakdown in Britain, the following rather odd phrase appears: “Yesterday [David Cameron] gave unequivocal backing to Iain Duncan Smith’s analysis and sided with the traditionalists on marriage, rather than the modernisers”.
Er, since when have modernisers been against marriage? I certainly am not, and I have been more than happy to criticise a benefits system that forces couples apart. I am also well aware of - and agree with - the evidence that marriages create a much more stable family. The key point, as Iain Duncan Smith found out at the week end, is that the Conservatives make clear that this is an analysis of the problem, which will lead to support for the institution of marriage and families in general. It is not a moralising attack on the way people choose to live their lives. Incidentally, David Cameron did not come out in favour of marriage yesterday - he made clear his support for marriage and family friendly policies from the moment he started to campaign for the leadership.