A return to Victorian houses for 'fallen women'?

As noted by Alex in his last post below, among the most intriguing parts of the Prime Minister's speech to Labour conference was his policy to place young mothers in a new care-home system.

The exact text from the speech is as follows:

"..From now on all 16 and 17 year old parents who get support from the taxpayer will be placed in a network of supervised homes.."

Given our natural inclination to oppose the idea of forcing someone into a state-run home, we wanted to know the details, but it seems this is not actually a new plan.

As this article from the Independent from 1999 demonstrates, Tony Blair's "social exclusion unit" dabbled with this idea around the turn of the century.

Back then financial incentives - such as benefit perks - were mooted. But it sounds to us like Gordon has just announced a system of compulsory placement.

Again, we await the exact details, but is this yet another black mark on this government's record on personal freedom?

By Dylan Sharpe 

Comments

[Victor Southern]

One of the very few ideas from New Labour that I have been able to agree with - mostly because I blogged about it months ago. It makes economic and social sense.

[Alex Deane]

Victor, you're kidding!

A link to your post please - would love to read it

[M Anderson]

The control freaks need to be sorted out!

[Victor Southern]

Alex Deane

I am not vain enough to keep a file of all the comments I make on blogs. Be assured that I have suggested it and was not kidding.

These teenage Mums are set aside from society, tasked with the upbringing of a child mostly without useful parental support.

They are the prey of itinerant and often abusive boy friends to whom the child, or children, are often a nuisance.

They have no way out of this trap - just the often shaky local Social Services - and almost no realistic way of getting training to work or being able to afford child care if they did.

Their overall quality of life is poor and liable to deteriorate.

So, Alex, do not judge me as an extremist. I am an idealist who wants a better deal for these young women. I have listened to 30 years of politicians and earnest sociologists ranting or pontificating on this problem and they have all failed and failed the very people they profess to want to assist. For every Baby P there is another, undiscovered, for every letter of the alphabet in every town and city. For every Sharon Matthews there are a thousand more like her living in daily terror.

So, get off your high horse, my friend. This is not a return to Victorian Home for the Fallen - it is a positive way back into normal society for these young women who otherwise have really nothing to look forward to in life.

[carol42]

I have long though it would be quite a good idea to have, not hostels, but perhaps blocks of small flats with a staffed creche so the young girls could continue in education or work. They could learn to care for their child, have company and some grown up supervision. Doubt it would ever happen under this shower though, it may be commonsense but the human rights lot would still start screaming, I say what about the right of the children to some stability and security.

[HMP Britain]

I love your take on this, 'fallen women'!

[Victor Southern]

Thank you Carol. I am glad that someone sees the good that could flow from this. The term "hostel" could mean all sorts of things and i certainly don't envisage dormitories.

M. Anderson
That is a totalitarian remark. It is the lack-of-control freaks that are at fault.

I am pleading for the human right for these young women and their children to be given a fair chance for a decent life - not given a poky flat and left to make shift. It is hard for even a mature and educated woman to bring up a child today. I speak from some knowledge. My parents divorced when I was 5 years old. My father ceased to make any contribution or have any contact.

[J C]

It's time we all grew up and stopped blaming everything on women. It takes two to make a child. Why are these irresponsible,immature men never mentioned? This childish,male dominated society has so much to answer for. Start making all these men responsible for their actions and watch the birth rate fall! Women may be 'falling',but it's men who have pulled us down after them.

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