This is likely to cause a bit of debate. Resolution has today released a survey by YouGov into attitudes towards divorce and relationship breakdown. The results are enlightening. Key findings include:- 75% of people believe that marriages end irrespective of how hard or easy it is to get a divorce
- 68 percent were in favour of no-fault divorce
- 60 percent did not agree that making the divorce process harder would mean more people would stay married
- 59 percent agreed that strengthening legal rights for cohabiting couples would encourage people to take financial responsibility for each other.
Resolution Chair David Allison points out that political parties have seized upon the family as an election issue, but that many of their policies miss the point. He says: "Politicians need to stop using family life as a political football and engage instead with real solutions which support rather than judge families." Alas, I fear that his words are likely to fall on deaf ears, as sensible family policies are not seen by our politicians as vote winners.
Sorry to be negative, but I wobe more interested on the percentage of people who agree that marriage should be rewarded / recognised in the tax / benefits system. I do not and think the numbers will continue to fall, but would be very interested to see if I am in the minority (or not) in that view.
ReplyDeleteI knew someone would be negative!
ReplyDelete:-)
Of course more people would stay married if you made the divorce process harder: if you made divorce impossible everyone would stay married.
ReplyDeleteThat wouldn't be desirable, but that isn't the question. Wishing a thing to be so doesn't make it so.
And will eroding the distinction beween marriage and cohabitation really 'encourage people to take financial responsibility for each other'? Really?
Too many lawyers in Resolution; too many lawyers in the Government!
Hi Nick. I thought you'd agree with this one!
ReplyDeleteYou can't have too many lawyers!
;-)
"sensible family policies are not seen by our politicians as vote winners"
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that actually is the politicians fault, it is the general level of the political debate and the media's influence upon it. Currently, honesty is suicide, so they become less than honest or rather non committal on any contentious subject, just look at the economic debate, if proof were needed........."but the public gets what the public wants
But I want nothing this society's got
I'm going underground, (going underground) "
Any news on Resolutions Code of Practice, I am referring to a properly audited quality system and complaints procedure????????
I'm not aware that Resolution have any such changes in the pipeline, but you may want to check with them.
ReplyDelete