Dave the dad (and what it could mean for Tory family policy)

After 'Cameron the green' we now have 'Cameron the dad'.

Many Tories do not like the way David Cameron talks about his homelife and, in particular, about his severely disabled son, Ivan.  They think it seems too Blairite.  Too insubstantial.  They certainly won't like the Tory leader's Father's Day declaration, in The Sunday Times, that "whatever I do or don’t achieve in politics, nothing matters as much as my family".  Such fatherhood and apple pie talk offends those who think that politics should only be about policy announcements and debate.  I'm with David Cameron, however. 

While there is something risky about voting for someone simply because of their perceived character or hinterland, that's what voters do.  Election after election America has elected the most likeable of the competing presidential candidates.

Tuesday will see David Cameron deliver a big speech on the family to the National Family and Parenting Institute.  It is reported that he will promise help for gay couples, support for families with child care; aid to help families make ends meet and policies to deliver safe environments for children. 

Support for marriage - despite the objections of Tim Yeo and Michael Portillo - looks set to be a key ingredient of Tory family policy but it is unlikely that there will be major policy commitments for a year - at least until after the family working party of Iain Duncan Smith's Social Justice Policy Group has reported.  Making the family a component of the party's social justice agenda was tactically astute.  As the Archbishop of Canterbury has noted, the breakdown of the family is a "life and death" issue in the inner cities.  Strong families are the best - and most neglected - weapon we have in the war on poverty.

If framing the family as a social justice issue is tactically astute then emphasising fatherhood is also clever. Too often Tory politicians have looked to be anti-single mums when rightly highlighting the importance of two parent and, ideally, married families.  Talking about the problem of absent fathers is a superior way of addressing this tricky issue.  Why pick on the mums who are still with their kids when the real problem is often absent dads?

The case for marriage is now widely accepted across American politics and academia.  Much of the consensus was built by the National Fatherhood Initiative. The Initiative - through inspirational advertising campaigns like the one at the bottom of this post - increased cultural understanding of the importance of fathers in young lives - particularly in boys' lives. Step two of the wider fatherhood campaign has been to emphasise the importance of men helping mothers raise children in stable, married environments.  As founder of the UK's Care for the Family, Rob Parsons, has said - the best thing a father can give his children is to love their mother.

There may not be much policy beef in Tuesday's speech but by emphasising social justice and fatherhood, David Cameron is laying solid foundations for a sustainable Conservative family policy.

Comments

[A H Matlock]

The Times declaration is simply proof that this man has got his priorities right, whatever course his political career may take. I don't see why many Conservatives would take issue with it.

[Sean Fear]

To be fair, it is an entirely reasonable sentiment on David Cameron's part.

[Sally Roberts]

I think it is delightful and refreshing that David Cameron is talking about his family! Too many of our MPs are happy to use their wives/partners and children as appendages or "stage props" when required, but then like nothing better than to stick them back in the cupboard out of the way!

[Yet Another Anon]

Election after election America has elected the most likeable of the competing presidential candidates.
They elected Richard Millhouse Nixon who certainly was a very slick operator but certainly was not likeable, they also elected Jimmy Carter rather than Gerald Ford.

[Donal Blaney]

Maybe another way to phrase the US basis for elections is this: if the battle is between not likeable but competent and not likeable but incompetent, the former (Nixon) wins. However if the battle is between likeable incompetent versus unlikeable competent, the likeable candidate wins (Clinton)...

[A H Matlock]

Carter had a certain folksy charm about him though, and Ford was seen as a bit of a buffoon and had the Watergate mess and the Nixon pardon hanging round his neck like a millstone.

[Sally Roberts]

Very true, Donal! so what's your prediction for 2008?

[CDM]

Go McCain!

[David Walker]

I am one of the Tories who doesn't like this personal approach. I remember vividly at election time a woman on ITV news saying of Blair: "Everytime he says "Look,..." I know he is about to lie to us". I have a feeling that if DC tries similar tactics as TB, over 3 years the public will become immune to his supposed 'charm'.
Britain isn't on its knees, and the public haven't really got a big enough stick to beat Brown that will prevent him standing a good chance of becoming PM. DC should not give them a Blair heir Vs Brown battle, that plays straight into the dour Scot's hands.

[Andrea]

"The Times declaration is simply proof that this man has got his priorities right, whatever course his political career may take."

Alastair, I don't doubt that it's true, but at the same time it's a PR move to show how caring, nice and sweet he's. You can't expect politicians to say "I'll push my mother under a bus if it helps to advance my career!"

[EML]

All of this was quite well received in the Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph, and there looks to be a nice advancement of the GWB idea. I hope Cameron talks about family and community a lot more in the coming months.

[Richard]

Fathers Day is an imported American festival which seems to be promoted to boost the card industry and make Dads feel better because they have their own special day.

That random gripe aside, I think Cameron has his priorities right. Although why he needs to tell us I don't know. Frankly I couldn't care less about what he does with his family.

[wicks]

Can't disagree with any of this. But, what do we do about the children who forever reason and despite everyones efforts don't have a father figure at home? Would like to hear what the policy there will be.

[Annabel Herriott]

I think the floating voter may well warm to DC as he has seen the NHS at its worst and best, so can speak with the realism of personal experience. Empathic is how the average voter in the street will rate him, they will also appreciate his hands on experiences, which many of them will share.

[Mark Fulford]

Fathers Day is an imported American festival which seems to be promoted to boost the card industry and make Dads feel better because they have their own special day.

Both my cards were homemade but yes, I did feel better. It was lovely to have a special day.

This hinterland stuff is significant. Nobody can foresee the decisions that our PM will have to take, so understanding their motivation and character is important. Blair’s hinterland is one of cats seek cream and ‘do as I say, not as I do’.

[Matthew Oxley]

With Cameron 100% here.

Possibly because I agree with the sentiment and would like to believe he does too - besides, what is there to possibly disprove what he says. I'll just have to trust him.

Matthew

[Julian Morrison]

It is important, it's congruent with this new "compassionate conservatism", the idea that family is more important than the state *and that this should be policy*.

[Richard North]

So why do I feel nauseous?

[Chad]

I'm a soppy dad of 5, and I'm not going to knock Dave over this.

Even as a small c conservative who has left the party and has now joined ukip, I think we can all put aside punch'n'judy and understand that promoting the family is a noble endeavour above party politics and encourage all politicians to do what they can to champion this issue.

[Mark Fulford]

So why do I feel nauseous?

Travel sickness? A common condition for children travelling in the back seat.

[James Maskell]

Cameron talks about having a private life, refering to drugs and yet he flounces his family about. I really dont like this stuff.

Interesting comment about those families without a father figure...perhaps he could help build another arm of Tory family policy about adoption and the foster system. I know those down here in Thanet would be interested. In fact, I live directly opposite a Childrens home. Whats his views on single parent familes? How would a Tory Government support them?

[Mark Fulford]

Cameron talks about having a private life, refering to drugs

No, he talks about having a life before politics.

[Patsy Sergeant]

I agree with Annabel's comment on this, and it is interesting that Gordon Brown decided to attack David Cameron for his 'namby-pamby' policies, and contrasting him UNfavourably with Mrs. Thatcher. I don't know who is advising him, but I think they have definitely got it wrong!!

Perhaps it was Ed Balls in his speech to the Compass group, where he was boasting of how much labour had done for child poverty, and the environment ----- the environment????? I suppose planning to build millions of new houses and demolish perfectly good Victorian terraces might improve someones environment - somehow?!