to think that david cameron is a twunt

[spookycharlotte121]

I am so sick and tired of the conservatives painting single parent families as being the scum of the earth.

We didnt choose to be on our on with our kids.... we work hard to provide themwith a stable home and be both the parents.... its bloody hard work and to be acused of causing a "broken britain" i think is quite frankly insulting.

I would like to make a dart board with his face on it!
that or leave him to look after my kids for a weekend, cope on a small income and cope with abuse from my ex!

[preciouslillywhite]

sorry purplepeony only just read your post back on page 2...

if you read mine carefully, you'll see I said politicians should gain an awareness of poverty and social exclusion "thro personal experience or work". And as far as I'm aware DC hasn't yet put in a stint at centrepoint, the Refugee Council, Child Povery Action group, Crisis, Shelter, Citizen's Advice, Debt Advice etc etc etc..

(though I would really, really like to be a fly on the wall if the clueless Marie Antoinette arse ever did )

[ElieRM]

I agree with posters that said he doesn't really have a grasp of modern Britain. He seems to think that if we were all married it would be utopia. Lots of unmarried couples and single parents are extremely successful. Lots of married couples aren't. I jsut can't see what difference it makes.

[hannahsaunt]

Wonder what Sarah Brown feels when she encounters DC philosophies - wasn't she brought up in a lone parent household? Hasn't done too badly ... (and I dn't mean wife of PM - there is plenty more to her than that).

[ElieRM]

ninagleams- Exactly.

[2kidzandi]

You see this is the problem: the assumption that because someone becomes a single parent they 1)do not believe in/dearly love to be married 2)do not contribute anything of worth to the country.

[ninagleams]

And the country will lose a load of money that could have helped people who need it, that could fund shelters for abuse victims or rape crisis or child benefit or childcare provision. It's a nonsensical policy because it shows that the tories don't believe in families that work, they believe in marriage.

[ElieRM]

What's with the married couple's teax break business?
Would a happily cohabiting couple marry just to save a few quid? I'm afraid I wouldn't/won't be. DP and I will marry as and when we see fit; i.e. for the right reasons.
And what about those whose marriages have broken dow completely, victims of domestic violence, will they stay married because of a tax break?
Can't see how that one works myself.

[Silver1]

4littlelions A very grown up post- why would you say that, because they prefer people who can to go out to work?
Because they believe a family is an important unit?
Because they believe this country will succeed if everyone pulls their weight?

[Silver1]

4littlelions A very grown up post- why would you say that, because they prefer people who can to go out to work?
Because they believe a family is an important unit?
Because they believe this country will succeed if everyone pulls their weight?

[said]

Presumably childless married couples will be given a tax break over long-term stable co-habiting couples with children?

[ilovemydogandmrobama]

Britain really is broken when the Tory party is campaigning that civil liberties have been eroded...

[ohjustgrowup]

I agree, Ninagleams. It is horribly simplistic. Is it better for parents in abusive or toxic relationships to stay together because a married unit is better than a stable single parent family?

I am a single parent. My ds is lucky enough to have two happy, single parents. He is emotionally, financially and educationally supported by both of us equally, but separately. We communicate nearly daily about him to ensure his routine and boundaries are the same with both of us. I resent being judged or penalised because my marriage did not work out.

I can't bear DC's smug attitude and think he is seriously a case of style over substance - and before I am told by anybody (mentioning no names) that I don't know enough about it - I have a degree in politics and I am a personal friend of DC's press secretary, so I do know something...

[ninagleams]

The Conservative Party are apparently going to "end the couple penalty in the benefits system and recognise marriage in the tax and benefits system". They're not going to recognise co-habitees with children which would be practical if you wanted to promote two parent families. They're not going to promote the welfare of children by offering new, innovative support to all parents whether they're coupled up or not. Nope, they're going to offer a marriage tax break.

DC hasn't said anything substantial about single parent families at all. He's ignored them and gone for the safest, most conservative, old fashioned, simplistic policy that the party could promote. This is backed up with policies surrounding working parents and parental leave that the current government have said they can't actually fund at the moment because they would cost too much.

[mazzystartled]

yanbu

i don't feel the need to qualify that any further

[hannahsaunt]

He has done something - he worked in PR - spin, spin, spin. Managed not to throw anything at the radio this morning as he was interviewed on Today. Dreadful man.

[slug]

Purplepony, the problem with DC is not so much that he has a privildged background, he can't help that, but rather that nothing he has done since he graduated has exposed him to the reality of life in the UK for the vast majority of Britains. He has only ever worked for the Conservative Party, represents a relatively wealthy electorate and has filled his shadow cabinet with men who have the same background as himself. How on earth is he supposed to really understand what life is like on benefits/low wages/sink extates/sub standard housing etc?

Contrast that with Tony Benn for example, who has an equally privilidged background.

[catinthehat2]

"By ReneRusso Wed 02-Sep-09 12:16:33 Add a message | Report post | Contact poster

I haven't heard David Cameron say anything against single parents. Please can someone post the link? "

Has anyone come back to Rene with an answer yet?

[MadameCastafiore]

It doesn;t matter what you say, any of you, he is going to be our next PM and I for 1 am very grateful for that.

[Silver1]

Paisleyleaf I think a lack of nurturing childcare contributes to broken Britain-and this government has criticised University Educated women who chose to stay at home with their children as wasting tax payers money.
They want all women back at work and there just isn't adequate childcare to cover this.

[Silver1]

IUsedToBePeachy They may be generalisations but why should I look see and hear a degregation of society and begrudge funding it with higher taxes?
Yes I agree there is an underclass-and yes it did begin to emerge in the Tory era, but Labour said they would fix it-and from what I have seen they have just glorified it.

I can hold my own moral standard without a government or a Mumsnetter telling me what it should be-but I can also vote for a party who seems to support these standards.

[jellybeans]

'I do have a problem with people who have essentially been born with a silver spoon in their mouths becoming elected to public office and then sermonizing about the supposed existence and evils of a social underclass of which they know nothing. '

I feel the same as 2kidzandi

[paisleyleaf]

single parents are not to blame for broken Britain

[oldraver]

I actually dont know what this man is saying, I just hear/read stuff on MN about what he has said. I cant wait for him to come knocking on the little nest of houses where I live (in his constituency

My neighbour across the road is a single parent. Her DH died while a high ranking RAF Officer, her two eldest where in private educatation and both now have degrees, the youngest is just off to university next month. My friend herself has a very good job in adult literacy and is completing her third degree

My next door neighbour was briefly a single parent as her there was an amicable break . Her youngest is still at school the oldest living independantly after completing college. She is a director/owner of an accountacy firm and gave up her £100,000/year London job 10 years ago to be nearer for her children

My next door but one also had a marriage break down. She is high up in South of England Tourism. Two sons at University

Then there is myself. I didnt choose to become a single parent as my DH died. Our son is now at University studying Crimnology and boy did it annoy him when the 'satistics' connecting 'broken homes' and crime were banidied about. I did choose to become a single parent again as I could support myself (partly as I have a pension that came from my DH serving his country)

So I cant wait for this mealey mouthed tosser to come calling and tell me what a waste all of these broken families are

[purplepeony]

Precious*- so according to your logic, the only people who are fit to lead the country or comment on poverty or the underclass are those who are either still poor or have had a poverty-stricken background- is that what you are saying?

If that is so, then how would the rest of the population- the majority who are NOT in poverty- feel about that kind of representative?

Your views don't really add up.