To what degree should any council, even one of the biggest in the country, shoulder the effects of what is a national and international issue?
The issue deeply affects hundreds of thousands of people a year, across every constituency, every local authority, every city and town.
A survey of the 400 plus Centre for Social Justice Alliance’s charities found that members felt undermined by statutory services.
Many face being trapped there, due to the bias against adoption. The Ministerial failure to tackle this has been woeful.
Some welcome the extra power to put up Council Tax. But they are reluctant to use it when their residents are already hard-pressed.
The life-long human and financial costs associated with childhood trauma can be significant. We need a strong family foundation.
If I had not been sent to a state boarding school and experienced stable relationships, I would likely have ended up in care myself.
After this disruptive start in life, many young people drift into an adulthood of crime and prison.
Our task is to improve a system that is already very effective, albeit far from perfect.
Fewer children are going into care. Crime is reduced. The taxpayer is saving money. The Government was right to defy the critics of this initiative.
Government should be passionate about self-reliance, but we must also recognise the transformative power of an enabling state.
Our new Covenant establishes a set of principles to guide private, public, and third-sector organisations who want to help.
Thousands more are spending Christmas denied the chance that adoption would offer them of a permanent, loving home.
Each Secretary of State in every department should examine the impact of their department’s policies on families’ lives.
It is true that financial pressures will increase. But the scope for reform and innovation remains huge. Services do not need to be cut.