Children are lonelier, more anxious, more depressed, and at higher risk of online grooming, self-harm, and suicide.
Governments need not be morally or religiously prescriptive in promoting marriage. Instead, it should be acknowledged empirically that the institution tends to benefit people.
That would be a profound change in this country’s attitude towards children and family life. One can argue the case for or against it – but that argument doesn’t really seem to be what’s informing ministers thinking.
People are having fewer children than they want: 80 per cent of British women of childbearing age want at least two children, with an average number of desired children of 2.35 per woman – far above the current total fertility rate of 1.49.
To parents providing a quality home education, I want to reassure you: my proposal would not seek to disrupt your right to home educate, or add extra burdens.
They bear all the hallmarks of irresponsible activism, intent on pushing the expansion of abortion at all costs regardless of the real-world impact.
In an ideal world, there would be informed consent, truly altruistic motives, acceptance of an imperfect child, and open communication. In reality, things are very – unacceptably – different.
If this more realistic approach to what we can reasonably expect can be applied to more aspects of workload and accountability, we may yet turn the tide of teachers leaving our schools.
If someone doesn’t have a smartphone at all, with WhatsApp and other speedy communication apps, then they are effectively shut out of a whole world of conversations, gatherings, parties, and gossip.
The Education Secretary says that the steps the government have already taken towards improving online safety “have yet to be seen by parents”.
By placing a duty on authorities to commission sufficient, child-specific support and advocacy services, along with developing separate statutory guidance, child victims of abuse can access uniform support, regardless of their location.
Outlawing surrogacy would contradict the Conservative belief in personal liberty and the right of individuals to make decisions that best suit their lives.
A remarkable amount has been achieved. Often against the odds and in the face of adversity. And certainly in circumstances far less benign than those faced by New Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer attacked the Government over its proposals to expand free childcare, quoting Conservative MPs.
Building on the momentum created by existing policy, and learning lessons from overseas, can deliver a significant boost to British family policy – without breaking the bank.