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Lib Dems promise to help families | Lib Dems promise to help families |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The Liberal Democrats are promising to help families stay together by ending the "bias" against couples in the taxation system. | The Liberal Democrats are promising to help families stay together by ending the "bias" against couples in the taxation system. |
Leader Sir Menzies Campbell will say the party would introduce a "couples' premium" into the child tax credit. | Leader Sir Menzies Campbell will say the party would introduce a "couples' premium" into the child tax credit. |
He will also promise to set the child benefit level for all children to that of the first-born, costing £1.7bn. | He will also promise to set the child benefit level for all children to that of the first-born, costing £1.7bn. |
The party will encourage lone parents to return to work when their youngest child is 12, Sir Menzies will say. | |
'Discourage dependency' | 'Discourage dependency' |
There is currently "very little incentive or support for lone parents to return to work until their youngest child is 16 years old", he will add. | There is currently "very little incentive or support for lone parents to return to work until their youngest child is 16 years old", he will add. |
"In most other European countries, the age at which parents are expected to look for work is considerably lower" | "In most other European countries, the age at which parents are expected to look for work is considerably lower" |
The Liberal Democrats must be a party not only of the affluent and compassionate middle classes, but of those struggling to make ends meet Sir Menzies Campbell | |
Returning earlier "might discourage dependency and reduce child poverty too", Sir Menzies is expected to argue. | Returning earlier "might discourage dependency and reduce child poverty too", Sir Menzies is expected to argue. |
He will tell the Institute for Public Policy Research that the state should "stop encouraging" couples to split up, adding: "This is not about the state telling people how to live their lives. | He will tell the Institute for Public Policy Research that the state should "stop encouraging" couples to split up, adding: "This is not about the state telling people how to live their lives. |
"But it is about removing the financial penalty that low-income parents incur if they choose to stay together." | "But it is about removing the financial penalty that low-income parents incur if they choose to stay together." |
The Lib Dems estimate that setting child benefit at the same level for all will move 300,000 children out of poverty. | The Lib Dems estimate that setting child benefit at the same level for all will move 300,000 children out of poverty. |
Sir Menzies will say the party must "take the fight for a fairer Britain into the mainstream of British politics and into the heartlands of the Labour Party". | Sir Menzies will say the party must "take the fight for a fairer Britain into the mainstream of British politics and into the heartlands of the Labour Party". |
He will add: "The Liberal Democrats must be a party not only of the affluent and compassionate middle class, but of those struggling to make ends meet." | |
Last week, Conservative leader David Cameron said couples should be "encouraged to get together and stay together", possibly with the help of changes to taxation. | Last week, Conservative leader David Cameron said couples should be "encouraged to get together and stay together", possibly with the help of changes to taxation. |
This followed a report by previous leader Iain Duncan Smith which found family splits caused social problems costing £20bn. | This followed a report by previous leader Iain Duncan Smith which found family splits caused social problems costing £20bn. |