Couples 'marrying to avoid poverty'

Growing numbers of UK couples are forced to marry to stay out of poverty, according to a new report.

The Civitas/Ipsos Mori survey of about 1,500 people aged 20-35 found that 79 per cent of people cohabiting wanted to tie the knot.

The survey is part of a new report from Civitas which reveals the shocking poverty divide between married couples and those cohabiting.

Second Thoughts on the Family claims 55 per cent of single parents and 43 per cent of cohabiting parents lived in poor areas compared with 26 per cent of married parents.

In contrast, 35 per cent of single parents and 56 per cent of cohabiting parents lived in affluent areas compared with 68 per cent of married parents.

The report slams the government for dismissing family structure and is critical of
the Conservative party for offering financial incentives to marry.

Anastasia de Waal, author of the report and head of family and education at Civitas, said: "What are construed [by Labour] as positive manifestations of diversity are in fact very often negative manifestations of deprivation and limiting
circumstances.

"This is not to deny that new opportunities to end unhappy relationships and a greater freedom of choice in family life have positively affected families right across the socio-economic spectrum.

"However, non-marriage and parental separation in the UK today disproportionately represent the problematic, as opposed to the progressive, elements of family diversity."

The report calls for men to be included more in family policy and child maintenance being taken out of wages or social assistance through HM Revenue and Customs regardless of income.

Alex Stevenson