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Cameron: Poverty matters less than a hug
Posted by Tracey Cheetham (@tchee)
Tuesday, 12th January 2010
So Cameron has convinced himself, and is now trying to kid the rest of us, that one of the basic tenets of socialism is irrelevant when it comes to child poverty. He has deliberately interpreted research by isolating points that can be used as a cop-out to the redistribution of wealth and can shore up the Tory policy of rewarding the institution of marriage.
Cameron was speaking at a launch of a study into the issue of character by the think-tank Demos. He admitted that material wealth does impact on life chances but dismissed the impact of this in comparison with parenting style. Apparently, poverty matters less than hugs when it comes to a child getting on in life: "What matters most to a child's life chances is not the wealth of their upbringing but the warmth of their parenting."
Of course though, Cameron also believes that less well-off parents are less likely to be good parents, so that is the reason for fewer of them achieving in life! He says, "the research shows that while the style of responsible parenting I've spoken about today is more likely to occur in wealthier households, children in poor households who are raised with that style of parenting do just as well."
Thanks for enlightening us Mr Cameron, all we need to do is encourage those parents who live in poverty, to give a hug a day! That is more effective than any privilege or favour bestowed by wealth.
Does he really believe this? Do the Tories actually think that their tax incentives for married couples will mean that all marriages will be happy and all families will be loving. As Germaine Greer said, at an appearance in Sheffield last month, "Do you really want a woman to continue lying in the same bed as a man she hates, just to preserve the family, Mr Cameron?" Would this really create a stable, loving environment for children? Of course not! This Labour government has done more to end child poverty than any other goverment in history. The effects of poverty run long, deep and seep through generations.
All Mr Cameron is achieving with his words today is to reinforce the fact that the Tories haven't changed. Rich = good, poor = bad and he is simply attempting to absolve himself and any potential Conservative government of any responsibility to adequately address the real issues that affect real families.
