The budget made clear there is no new money to buy progress. Alistair Darling set out the economic state of the nation and the government’s financial plans. What was missing was a social budget setting out the government’s plan to strengthen relationships and support society. The Relationships Foundation is therefore calling for an annual ‘Relationships State of the Nation’ survey holding up a mirror to our society in the same way the budget reflects our economy.
Executive Director Michael Trend comments, ‘Economic policy is important, but the parties are in danger of missing the bigger picture. Voters want improved wellbeing and that requires better relationships as well as a thriving economy. Ensuring that policies support rather than undermine relationships is an essential element of any strategy to satisfy continuing demands for progress and reduce the fiscal deficit.’
‘The focus on the budget plays into the myth that a growing economy will solve all our problems. We need a new type of budget that outlines new strategies and measures of progress. The Chancellor has outlined an economic growth package, to secure the recovery, but no measures to stimulate a social recovery. There is a four-year plan to halve the deficit, but no similar plan to deal with the social deficit.’
‘Looking ahead to 2015 or 2020 what are the key changes voters would like to see? Progress on the economy – tackling the deficit and restoring growth – will of course be essential. But surely we want more than that? 1979 was about market freedom and lower taxes. 1997 was about public service delivery. What about 2010?’
Recent research by the Relationships Foundation has shown that when we get relationships right, and particularly family relationships, the dividends are great in terms of health, education outcomes, welfare, community safety and business. But when they go wrong the costs are in excess of £40bn a year.(1) The key to progress and a stronger economy lies in relationships. Our Relationships State of the Nation pamphlet sets out how change can be enabled and how it can be measured.(2)
Making progress without increased spending will need a very different approach to government. We will need new measures to know that we are on track – assessments of loneliness, inequality, and the time we have for key relationships. This will cause us all to stop and think about what we value most – to evaluate our true national wealth.
The current economic crisis has shown how much people value and prioritise relationships and how much they want to see wellbeing pushed up the national agenda. The ‘Relationships State of the Nation’ will hold up a mirror to our society and ask: do you like what you see, do you like the direction in which we are travelling? Only in such a way can we know that we are making the progress we need to.
ENDS
For more information please contact: Peter Lynas –
p.lynas@relationshipsfoundation-org.stackstaging.com 01223 341286 07899 898066
NOTES TO EDITORS:
(1) Counting the Cost of Family Failure, Briefing Note 2, Relationships Foundation, 2010. Available here.
(2) A Relationships State of the Nation, Relationships Foundation, 2010. Available here.
The Relationships Foundation, established in 1993, is a Cambridge-based independent think tank seeking a better connected society. It studies the effect that culture, business and government have on relationships. It proposes new ideas for strengthening social connections, campaigns on issues where relationships are being undermined, and trains and equips people to think relationally for themselves.