The British Conservative and Unionist Party has produced policy proposals, in the document "Fixing our broken society"*, which would make the tax and benefits system favourable to married couples. While it must be stressed, these are proposals which may not be adopted as policy it does raise some serious questions.
The document rightly points out the UK taxation system does not favour married couples. They argue that it should because this would prevent "family breakdown", i.e. reduce the number of divorces. The document also argue that married couples are more likely to stay together than unmarried ones. The document also suggests the tax and benefit system makes it economically more viable to split up, £50-£100 a week better off is one figure cited.
There practical problems with these arguments are:
-in many cases its better for some parents to split up, domestic abuse being an obvious example
-some single parents are widowed
-if people get married for financial reasons, does this mean they are less likely to split up if they remained unmarried? Who makes any of these sorts of decisions entirely on economic grounds?
-it can't be taken as read the extra money £50-£100 would cover the extra costs of living apart
Furthermore, the Conservatives argue they are committed to social justice. If so, how can discrimination against unmarried couples, same sex couples and single parents be justified? Or, to put it another way, why should children of unmarried, same sex and single parents be discriminated against?
This is the nub of the issue. When the Conservatives were last in power, there was a 'Married Man's Tax Allowance'. The problem was that this benefited married men without children, but did not help unmarried men or women with children. The Blair/Brown Labour Government's approach, while far from perfect, is more child centred in its approach. Families receive tax credits, not married couples.
There is also an interesting point of principle and ideology. The Conservatives are supposed to be the Party that believes Government should stay out of peoples lives, but Labour is meant to be in favour of the nanny state. However, this is a point for anyone who believes in a liberal democracy (not necessarily to be confused with Liberal Democracy!). While there may be some debate on the extent to which Government can and should intervene to reduce poverty, surely people should have the right to decide if they want to get married, enter into a civil partnership or not, without having to consider the tax system. Nor should the state consider the marital, or even relationship status, of someone when considering the taxes or benefits they should receive.
P.s.: As an Anglo-Catholic I believe marriage is a sacrament, however, crudely, I also believe baptism is a sacrament: this does not believe I think people should get tax credits for being baptised or having their children baptised.
The document rightly points out the UK taxation system does not favour married couples. They argue that it should because this would prevent "family breakdown", i.e. reduce the number of divorces. The document also argue that married couples are more likely to stay together than unmarried ones. The document also suggests the tax and benefit system makes it economically more viable to split up, £50-£100 a week better off is one figure cited.
There practical problems with these arguments are:
-in many cases its better for some parents to split up, domestic abuse being an obvious example
-some single parents are widowed
-if people get married for financial reasons, does this mean they are less likely to split up if they remained unmarried? Who makes any of these sorts of decisions entirely on economic grounds?
-it can't be taken as read the extra money £50-£100 would cover the extra costs of living apart
Furthermore, the Conservatives argue they are committed to social justice. If so, how can discrimination against unmarried couples, same sex couples and single parents be justified? Or, to put it another way, why should children of unmarried, same sex and single parents be discriminated against?
This is the nub of the issue. When the Conservatives were last in power, there was a 'Married Man's Tax Allowance'. The problem was that this benefited married men without children, but did not help unmarried men or women with children. The Blair/Brown Labour Government's approach, while far from perfect, is more child centred in its approach. Families receive tax credits, not married couples.
There is also an interesting point of principle and ideology. The Conservatives are supposed to be the Party that believes Government should stay out of peoples lives, but Labour is meant to be in favour of the nanny state. However, this is a point for anyone who believes in a liberal democracy (not necessarily to be confused with Liberal Democracy!). While there may be some debate on the extent to which Government can and should intervene to reduce poverty, surely people should have the right to decide if they want to get married, enter into a civil partnership or not, without having to consider the tax system. Nor should the state consider the marital, or even relationship status, of someone when considering the taxes or benefits they should receive.
P.s.: As an Anglo-Catholic I believe marriage is a sacrament, however, crudely, I also believe baptism is a sacrament: this does not believe I think people should get tax credits for being baptised or having their children baptised.
*See page 3 of: http://standupspeakup.conservatives.com/Reports/BreakthroughBritain/discussionguide.pdf
Please feel free to comment, any offensive posts will be removed.
Please feel free to comment, any offensive posts will be removed.
1 comment:
I agree with you pretty much entirely. But vote Clegg. Sorry, I'd comment more insightfully, but all those high-fives have been a bit draining...
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