Labour and the family

Hello all,

I am delighted to be able to join the Progress blog. I think its very important that everyone participates in the debate on the future direction of the Labour Party as we seek to renew ahead of the next general election. This website is already proving to be an excellent forum for party members to discuss ideas.

Yesterday, I made a speech on the importance for Labour to focus on supporting strong, stable families in the years ahead. The speech was part of the government's Social Exclusion week, which has been led by Cabinet Office Minister Hilary Armstrong.

The family has been uncomfortable territory for the centre-left after decades in which the right have used talking about the family to stigmatise lone parents and rail against changing modern families. There are indeed difficult questions for us as we consider new ways to support families in the years ahead, but I think its essential that we do confront those questions head on.

I would really appreciate your thoughts on my speech.

Thanks,

John Hutton, Work and Pensions Secretary

Comments

You seem obsessed with Incapacity Benefit and disabled people. What's your problem? Do you have a deep-seated hatred of disabled people SO MUCH in fact that you feel the needed to lie in the media about the levels of fraud in disability benefits? Was it not YOUR OWN PARTY THAT SAID "the levels of fraud in disability benefit was 'TINY'"?

The lie detector pilot scheme, can it be tested on you first? Your level of honesty and trustworthiness is questionable to say the least.

Come to our message board for Carers and talk to us, think of it as a challenge www.carersmessageboard.com I can arrange a web chat at a days notice, instead of making snide remarks about disabled people come and talk to the CARERS of disabled people, the back-bone of this country AND THE MOST EXPLOITED.

I dare you to publish this in the spirit of honesty and openness