coalition government 2010-2015

• came to power in 2010 when david cameron's conservatives formed a coalition (alliance) with the liberal democrats to get their legislation through
• conservatives favoured traditional NF and limited state intervention
• liberal democrats recognised that families are now diverse and that policies should reflect that
• shared parental leave

  parental leave should be shared equally between man and woman

  • rather than assuming that women would take an extended period off work while men would only be entitled to 2 weeks
• same sex marriage act 2013


  legalised gay marriage to meet the needs of modern society
• child benefits moved from universal to being based on income


  gave more responsibility to parents as only 2 parents per family could claim
• X fails to support alternative families as they view it as inferior and insufficient for raising children
• X women have been forced into the expressive role or poverty due to the lack of support by the government for childcare
• X policies widened the gap between poor and rich families due to cuts in benefits