Family Fortunes: the new politics of childhood: Family Fortunes: the new politics of childhood

The children’s agenda is central to Labour’s distinctive vision of government, and can help shift the centre ground of British politics by making a new popular case for state provision.

But the authors in this collection warn that building a genuinely child-friendly society will mean revisiting some of the most contentious areas for the left-public spending, tax and the politics of the family.

The children’s agenda is central to Labour’s distinctive vision of government and can help shift the centre ground of British politics by making a new popular case for state provision. But the authors in this collection warn that building a genuinely child-friendly society will mean revisiting some of the most contentious areas for the left – public spending, tax and the politics of the family. And whilst Labour has always supported women’s rights to paid employment, the revolution in family life caused by working mothers poses new questions for our society.

Almost everyone agrees that children should have the best chances in life. But turning that aspiration into a reality involves some tough decisions for the government, for employers and for all of us. Talking about families does not mean advocating motherhood and apple pie, but it does mean thinking seriously about our priorities as a society.

You can buy a printed copy edition of Family Fortunes: The new politics of childhood for £6.95, plus £1 p+p, by phoning the Fabian Society bookshop on 020 7227 4900, emailing us at bookshop@fabian-society.org.uk or send a cheque payable to “The Fabian Society” to 11 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H 9BN.