Conservative childhood review
ePolitix.com Stakeholders' comment on the news that the Conservative Party has launched its childhood review.
The review comes in response to a report published last year by Unicef, which put the UK at the bottom of a table of 21 developed countries for the wellbeing of children.
Party response: Conservative Party
David Cameron MP, Conservative Party leader, said: "Nowhere is the right balance of personal responsibility, a strong society, and effective government more necessary than when it come to improving the wellbeing of our children. The Unicef report was damming and shocking, but as a country, we must not lose faith in ourselves.
"Together we can create a strong and confident society in which children live, play and grow happily within the boundaries of the common good. Boundaries which are monitored and enforced by all adults: not as lone soldiers but as part of a social fabric.
"This generation of children has as much potential as any previous generation. Today's parents care as much for their children as any in the past. All we need is a shared commitment as adults to do all we can for children – not just our own, but everybody's. That way we really can make this country the best place in the world for children to grow up."
Party response: Labour Party
Beverley Hughes MP, children's minister, said: "The Tory childhood report is a mish-mash of warm words, uncosted policies and stolen ideas, which are falling apart under the slightest scrutiny.
"Andrew Lansley has already been forced to reveal that their maternity proposals may be funded by cuts to future grants for pregnant mums and would not apply to all mothers after all.
"Today, they have failed to provide any new ideas or any new funding to support children or families. The Tories say they want to improve public playgrounds, but they had nothing to say about this when the government set out in the Children's Plan £225m of investment to rebuild or renew 3,500 children's play areas and build 30 new supervised adventure play parks.
"David Cameron calls for more flexible working, but he voted against extending maternity leave and giving parents of young children the right to request flexible working in 2002. And while he keeps quoting a study by Unicef, Michael Gove has himself said the report was based on 'out of date' facts and 'unfair to the government.
"In the Children's Plan, the Labour government set out a coherent, fully costed and fully funded strategy to improve the lives of children and support parents. The Conservatives have failed to do that and after all the hype this flimsy 20 page document is a big disappointment. Behind the spin and PR of Cameron's Conservative Party, it's clear there is still no substance at all."
Stakeholder response: National Union of Teachers
To send a comment to the NUT clickhere
Steve Sinnott, general secretary, said: "David Cameron's speech contains refreshing ideas about dealing with threats to children's wellbeing. Of particular importance is his recognition that relentless pressures of commercialisation undermine children and parents alike. I call on him now to commit his party to practical measures which will protect children.
"He should support a ban on television advertising focused on children up before the 9pm watershed. Parents come under enormous pressure to buy junk food, electronic games and expensive designer clothes for their children; products which they can often ill afford.
"He should urge the government to convene a forum of industry, school and communities to establish a code which would prevent unethical advertising.
"Protecting children is a cross-party issue. I urge all parties to examine their ideas on their merits, not on a party political basis."
Stakeholder response: Play England
To send a comment to Play England clickhere
Adrian Voce, director, said: "The Conservative’s proposals are a welcome addition to the ongoing political debate about children’s play and their access to public space. It is good news for children and families that play is now at the top of the agenda for child policy. This review signals a growing political consensus on the need for serious action across a range of policy areas that impact on children and space.
"What is required now is a commitment locally to embed the current and promised spending programmes into long-term action to both renew public play provision and remove the barriers that children face to playing outside in their neighbourhoods and communities.
"A culture change is needed if we are to really create a child-friendly public realm: poor planning and bad traffic management; parent’s fears for their children’s safety; children’s fears of bullying and anti-social behaviour; inter-generational mistrust and negative attitudes to young people. These are complex and interrelated factors needing a broad and strategic response."
