There was a time frame within the Nineteen Nineties when it was popular for politicians to speak about ‘family values’. The voting population was often surveyed to find their relative rankings of political parties’ support for these beliefs. But this concern seems less common in recent times. What happened?
“Family values” means various things to different people. For some, it refers to all social conservative values, resembling: chastity, commitment, marriage, tradition, patriotism, and clearly the family itself. This is usually defined more by what social conservatives are against, though: pornography, divorce, drugs, radical feminism, same-sex marriage, for instance. For others, it is just supporting different sorts of families and inspiring what’s vital to assist them thrive.
One obvious reason why British politicians piped down about “family values” was the embarrassment when those values were shown somewhat shallow, or non-existent, within the politicians themselves. For example, after Conservative Prime Minister John Major launched his “back to basics” campaign in 1993, it wasn’t long before the tabloid newspapers uncovered a series of grubby scandals that led to many resignations.
There were quite a few “money for questions” affairs, resembling that of Neil Hamilton. There were also many sex scandals of a sort that may not be regarded as scandalous in today’s more permissive society: fathering children to women who weren’t their wives, as environment minister Tim Yeo admitted, having affairs like Lord Caithness, or the closeted homosexuality of Michael Brown, a minister and MP. At the time such behaviour was seen as hypocritical, and its exposure led to a resignation. Of course, in later years it was also discovered that Major himself had conducted an extra-marital affair prior to his premiership.
A return to family values?
Despite this ignoble history, could family values be making a comeback? Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned family 14 times in his New Year speech this 12 months, in keeping with the i newspaper. “Family runs throughout our vision of a greater future,” the PM said, in keeping with the report. He stressed the necessity for “a society that really values the family”.
Of course in recent times the upper echelons of the Conservative Party haven’t been any more family-orientated. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has had several marriages and lots of adulterous affairs, and the photos of Matt Hancock’s adulterous clinch in a lift in 2021 provoked public fury, more for his breaching of Covid rules than his infidelity.
However there are a number of Tory MPs who appear to be more committed to the traditions of “family values” and who’re beginning to speak up. Miriam Cates, who’s a Christian, has spoken positively of the standard family and the protection of kids on multiple occasions, and fellow social conservatives (and fellow Christians) Danny Kruger and Nick Fletcher too.
The rise of anti-family values
It will not be just the hypocrisy of their colleagues that makes these discussions harder today, nonetheless. Many modern activists express their explicit desire to advertise the other of the standard family. Not limited to the promotion of same-sex relationships and even polygamous relationships, these latest movements argue that the standard family promotes inequality, amongst other things. There has also been a decline in marriage in British society, so fewer voters may be perceived to view it as essential.
And while the PM has discussed the family, Harry Benson on the Marriage Foundation argues that politicians are less comfortable discussing marriage itself. “It’s now a decade since any cabinet minister made a speech that included the importance of marriage,” he wrote in a blog for the UK 2024 election. “This public silence is at odds with their private behaviour. Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are each married, as are most of their respective cabinets. What do they know that we shouldn’t know?”
Those who denigrate marriage or family while receiving their advantages themselves have been accused of getting “luxury beliefs”, a term coined by former foster child and now successful author, Rob Henderson. It refers to beliefs that damage society, especially the poor, yet are promoted by the elite, who do the precise opposite. “The original luxury belief is that family structure is unimportant, despite an enormous body of research indicating that a stable two-parent house is one among the strongest aspects for a baby’s wellbeing and future,” Henderson wrote on his newsletter. “Among U.S. college graduates, only 25 percent think couples must be married before having kids.
“Their actions, though, contradict their luxury belief: the vast majority of American college graduates who’ve children are married. Affluent individuals are the most definitely to advertise the view that marriage is unimportant, despite their behaviour suggesting otherwise.”
Is the American family valued?
‘Family values’ has had more success within the US, where it still appears to be valued. It became a core a part of the presidential campaign on the 1992 Republican National Convention, where a “Family Values Night” featured Barbara Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle’s wife, Marilyn. The focus was Hillary Clinton and their claims that she desired to undermine the family. That campaign was unsuccessful, and the Clintons went on to win the White House, despite their somewhat questionable family values. Historically the American public say that they consider this very essential of their selection of President. While it won’t seem so, after the rise in support for Donald Trump, a person whose attitude towards women and marriage is definitely not aligned with what most individuals consider ‘family values’ – much of his support on the best was on account of the perceived lesser values of Clinton and Joe Biden as compared, especially on abortion.
US polls this 12 months show that for voters on the best, family values are still considered essential within the US. “Trump supporters (59%) are way more likely than Biden supporters (19%) to say that it is best if people prioritize marriage and youngsters,” concluded a recent poll from Pew Research. An identical trend occurs for beliefs on abortion, though younger Trump voters are more ‘pro selection’ than their older fellows.
The way forward for family values
It might sound that with a seemingly more liberal younger generation and their rejection of the social conservative beliefs which are often related to “family values”, that the longer term looks bleak. However, there are a number of signs that Gen Z is more traditional or conservative than its elders within the UK; and there may be a recent shift in US society further towards family values.
Perhaps the pendulum is swinging? The UK’s general election will undoubtedly result in a shake up in party politics because the Conservative party flounders. This could lead on to a return to family values – or a turn against them. There are small political parties which are more traditionally conservative waiting within the wings, resembling the Social Democratic Party. Family values aren’t quite finished – yet.
Heather Tomlinson is a contract journalist. Find her at www.heathertomlinson.substack.com or on twitter @heathertomli
