Moving up a notch in state control of children

(The man who left his child in a pub - because he forgot.) 

"Benefits will be docked from feckless parents who refuse to take classes on how to improve their children’s discipline, diet and exercise under plans being discussed by senior Tories. A secret party document photographed in Downing Street reveals MPs preparing the Conservative election manifesto are considering attaching new conditions to welfare."

"Carried by MP Margot James, who sits on a policy advisory board which is drawing up proposals for Prime Minister David Cameron, it reads: ‘Apply conditions for parents on benefits `(training or parenting classes)."

Miss James’s document suggests the Tories now want to go far further to make parents sign up, by making receipt of benefits conditional on co-operation with training by charities and experts.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656727/Feckless-parents-stripped-benefits-unless-lessons-raising-family.html

It has to be remembered that many working parents require state benefits to top up the inadequate wages they receive. So the rhetoric about work shy `scroungers` or `feckless` parents does not apply. Tax payers are actually subsidising companies who will not pay a living wage.

This proposed policy, like GIRFEC, is another example of the relentless drive towards state control of families and children, particularly those who are disadvantaged. Only this time the government insists they will tell families how to bring up their children, and they must obey, or else.