SalfordOnline

Hazel Blears calls for sensible debate on marriage policy

Hazel Blears MP has called for a sensible debate on how political parties should approach marriage amid fears that the Conservative Party’s proposed tax breaks for married couples would penalise widows, divorcees and abandoned mothers.

After calling for the Conservatives’ proposed policy of giving married couples a tax break to be debated in the House of Commons recently, she said people in Salford wanted to know how it would effect them, and whether motorists would have to pay higher taxes to fund the policy.

“I am a strong supporter of marriage,” she said. “It plays a vital role in giving family stability and making strong communities. But I am concerned that the Conservatives’ policy of recognising marriage in the tax system will effectively penalise widows. I have had a number of people in my constituency approach me about this and I think David Cameron needs to come clean on what his policy means. How can it be right that a woman whose husband lost his life in an accident at work would be made worse off under Conservative tax proposals?

“We all know modern Britain is full of families of all shapes and sizes and the Conservatives are hopelessly out of touch if they think a policy that punishes the widow, the divorcee or the abandoned mother is fair.”

Hazel Blears asked the following question on 21 January:

Hazel Blears (Salford, Labour)

I hope that my right hon. and learned Friend can clear something up for me.. On 4 January, the Leader of the Opposition said that giving married couples a tax break was

"something we want to do, something we believe we can do"

and

"something...I'll definitely hope to do".

Will my right hon. and learned Friend provide time on the Floor of the House for a debate on married couple's allowance so that we can all be enlightened about the difference between a promise, a belief, an aspiration, a pledge and any other word that might describe the Leader of the Opposition's policy?

Comment by Guest  10th February 2010 got the nerve to post through my door a leaflet saying babies should still be born in salford ,how 2 faced can you get dont forget voters

Comment by Guest  10th February 2010 sensible debate lol where were you hazel when the baby unit at hope was closed down ?

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