LETTER: Legislative change and lone parents
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Ms Sue Monk
Sir: John Redwood's suggestion that adoption should be considered before state support is offered is a threat to children's welfare. In most cases, it is damaging for the child to be removed from its natural mother. Nevertheless, John Redwood's comments have highlighted the special needs of the tiny minority of lone parents aged between 14 and 16. More educational and training opportunities for this group are, indeed, much needed, as are extra resources for the hostels that are appropriate for a small number of mothers in this group.
Overall, what is needed urgently in the lone parenthood debate is a long- term view that aims to invest in, rather than punish, one-parent families. Policies along this line are needed as much for the majority of lone parents - the mature women and men who were once-married - as for the very young.
A recent DSS survey shows 90 per cent of lone mothers wish to return to work. A cohesive national strategy that provided more training opportunities, high-quality, affordable childcare and a bridge between benefits and wages could lift large numbers of lone mothers out of long-term poverty.
Rarely is adoption in the child's best interests: cutting benefits to one-parent families could never be. That would penalise the vulnerable, drive more children into poverty and do nothing to reduce the number of lone parents stuck in long-term dependency.
Yours faithfully,
Sue Monk
National Council for
One Parent Families
London, NW5
15 August
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments