What policy changes do families need in post-crash Britain?

A new briefing from IPPR explores the central problems and anxieties affecting families across Britain today. The first of their ‘Condition of Britain’ papers.

They highlight five main areas of concern:

·      Financial pressures caused by poor growth in real wages and price increases on essentials like energy, food, fares and childcare.

·      Finding time for each other due to long working hours and poor family leave policies.

·      Money and domestic responsibilities put pressure on relationships leading to higher rates of divorce and separation. Geographical mobility weakens family support mechanisms.

·      Parents do a good job, but need support. Stress and poor mental health is on the increase.

·      Certain markets intrude into family life skewing children’s priorities towards material goods and away from quality relationships.

The paper then sets out some lessons for policy and action.

These include:

·      The importance of a decent income, not just benefits.

·      Strong relationships matter and this means more than just a tax break for married couples.

·      Parents need practical help, not isolation or blame.

·      We need strong families who are able to stand up to market pressure.

This is a really useful contribution to the debate about the pressures and support families need.