'Children are better off with two parents', according to a new Bible Society poll

Three quarters of people believe that it is better for a child to have two parents rather than one.

In a poll commissioned to coincide with the Christian Socialist Movement’s annual Tawney Dialogue - which will include Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families - more than three quarters of people (79%) agree that it is better for a child’s quality of life to live with two parents rather than one. 

Nearly half of people polled (45%) also said they agreed that generally, it is better for a child’s quality of life to live with two married parents rather than two co-habiting parents. 

The survey also found that over three quarters (78%) of people believe marriage is a private choice in which the government should not get involved.  Nearly two thirds (64%) of people, however, said the government should encourage marriage generally but not through tax incentives.

When asked about improving community life ‘good schools’ (91%) came top of the list of factors which determined quality of life, followed by: lower levels of crime and disorder (85%) and stable families (76%).

These three factors came higher than a strong local economy (71%) and high quality housing (56%).

When asked how important various factors were for couples choosing to get married the poll revealed following results: 

Because they love each other 95%
Financial security 76%
To have children 56%
For religious reasons 41%

The poll was commissioned to coincide with the debate: ‘Will the General Election make any difference to the family?” hosted by the Christian Socialist Movement on in London on Wednesday 10 March.
Debating will be Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools, and Families; Ann Holt, Director of Programme at the Bible Society and Advisor to the Relationships Foundation;  and Elaine Storkey, a broadcaster, author, and theologian.

CSM Director Andy Flannagan said:
'This survey shows why family policy cannot be squeezed into narrow ideological agendas.  It is too easy for the family to become a political football, yet it is an important building block for our society.  These issues are always sensitive but we can resolve to talk about them with maturity and grace.

‘The survey shows strong support for two-parent families and family stability.  Interestingly, the intentionally public decision to marry is seen as a private choice.  However, the survey suggests that marriage should be supported by the state. ‘

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Tawney Dialogue will be held on 10 March at 6:30pm, at Westminster Central Hall. It is named after RH Tawney (1880-1962), a leading Christian Socialist and Labour Party member of the last century. Tawney Lectures and Dialogues have been running since 1992 on a variety of topics from a Christian Left perspective.
The Christian Socialist Movement is a large group of Christians affiliated to the British Labour Party, including over 40 members in the House of Commons and House of Lords including the current Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The Tawney Dialogue is named after RH Tawney (1880-1962), a leading Christian Socialist and Labour Party member of the last century.  Tawney Lectures and Dialogues have been running since 1992 on a variety of topics from a Christian Left perspective.
CSM’s latest articles on the family can be read at http://tinyurl.com/yarlv2y .
The Christian Socialist Movement is a large group of Christians affiliated to the British Labour Party, including over 40 members in the House of Commons and House of Lords including the current Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the former Prime Minister Tony Blair.