Evaluating new labour policies

• The Labour governments did introduce policies that acknowledged family diversity
• The government did continue to hold the official position that marriage was the best basis for family life (and at the time, that could only be between a man and a woman)
• The government retained the idea of the traditional nuclear family being ideal
• The government defended its policies in relation to lone parents

  On the basis of encouraging and enabling people to return to work, including with improved access to childcare
• Critics suggested the government's policies for lone parents

  Were just about cutting welfare payments rather than helping lone parents
• The Civil Partnerships Act could be seen as a missed opportunity for full marriage equality that did not arrive for another 9 years
• At the time it was felt that opposition from religious groups would make full marriage equality too difficult and controversial
• The impact of policies to allow gay couples to effectively marry and adopt children should not be underestimated