Single Mothers piling up problems
March 23, 2005
Telegraph By Jonathan Petre and George
Jones
Mr Blair said Mr Campbell had been referring to the danger that politicians
could be misinterpreted if they talked about their faith.
The Prime Minister expressed concern about single mothers in inner cities who
had children "very, very young" and said it was "piling up problems for the
future".
He said: "It is important that they get role models at school and in the
community, where they see it is not a great life trying to bring up a single
parent family aged 17 or 18 - actually it is pretty miserable.''
Downing Street later denied that he was blaming young mothers for society's
ills.
Although he appealed to Church leaders not to bring religion into the general
election, he said Churches made a "visible, tangible difference" for the better
in society.
Mr Blair rejected talk of a decline in religion and the Churches in national
life, saying he had been struck by their revival in social action in local
communities.
Christian organisations had a crucial role to play in helping young people.
Jewish and Muslim community organisations were also doing a "fantastic job".
Mr Blair said he wanted to "recast" the 1945 settlement on public services and
the welfare state for the modern age.
While he would remain "absolutely true" to the principles of social justice and
opportunity for all, public services must become able to serve the needs of
individual citizens.
He said the voluntary sector, including churches and faith communities, had a
critical role to play in the modernisation process.
Increasing voluntary activity did not mean the withdrawal of state support for
decent schools and hospitals. The Government could not do everything, which was
why voluntary organisations had to help.
Mr Blair acknowledged that there were problems with the asylum system, because
it had been abused.
"Those problems should be dealt with, not exploited. We can deal with it without
creating a situation where we blame groups of people for all the ills of
society."
John Reid, the Health Secretary, indicated that MPs were likely to take another
look at the time limit for abortion after the election.
But he urged that abortion should not become a party political issue, saying
that it should continue to be a matter of conscience for MPs.
He told a Labour press conference: "Every so often backbenchers, and not
government, have raised the issue and time is made available to discuss these
matters.
He added: ''I said months ago that I anticipated this would be the case in the
next parliament."
