A number of Conservative MPs have called on the British government to form a new government ministry that would be tasked with campaigning on behalf of stay-at-home parents.
Forty-four Conservative MPs have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to appoint a Cabinet-level Minister for Families, who would be supported by a Government Families Office.
The MPs in question are concerned about the welfare of parents who stay at home instead of going out to work and believe that this group has been largely passed over in recent government policy pledges.
Urging the government to make good its pledge to "strengthen families," they wrote: "As you take this manifesto commitment forward may we ask you to consider establishing a Cabinet-level minister for Families, supported by a Government Families Office.
"This Cabinet-level brief is envisaged to be similar to the role of Minister for Women and Equalities, supported by the Government Equalities Office and held alongside another Cabinet-level role.
"This co-ordinating role will make sure Strengthening Families is taken seriously across every Government department. Such an appointment would also fulfil the commitment you made during the party's leadership campaign."
The letter continued: "Evidence shows that the biggest factor in determining how people vote is the impact policies will have on them and their families: YouGov found that 81 per cent of British adults think stronger families and improved parenting are important to addressing Britain's social problems."
Former Director of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, Ranil Jayawardena MP, has spearheaded the call to have a Families Minister appointed. He told the Telegraph that parents who stay at home felt "devalued" by government policy:
"It’s so important that the Government continues to support families and goes further in the years ahead, as we promised in the manifesto.
"We delivered on our pledge to raise the tax-free allowance to £12,500 – and this has raised the Marriage Allowance in turn – but I know that many want us to go further, given that single people without family responsibilities in the UK pay 8 per cent less tax than the OECD average, whilst single-earner married couples with two children pay 26 per cent more.
"Sadly, many parents feel that staying at home has been devalued. This is wrong. Their £1 trillion worth of unpaid care is invaluable – and not only do stay-at-home parents look after their children; they often look after their parents. Self-reliance isn’t always possible, but plucky folk should be saluted."