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Wedding Rings
UK News

Marriage Foundation research finds "utterly disastrous" North-South divide for children

by Aaron James

The research by the Marriage Foundation found in the north-east of England and Wales, nearly 60 per cent of children were born to parents who were not married.

This compares to just 36 per cent in London, and 43 per cent in south-east England generally.

The figures have suggested a significant marital North-South divide between the generally less affluent and sometimes post-industrial North, and the more affluent South.

Harry Benson, a Christian from the Marriage Foundation, said many policymakers, experts and politicians - who are often more wealthy than the national average - have been hypocritical by continually saying marriage is not necessary for a stable family, while often being married themselves.

Marriage Foundation research has found that 75 per cent of mothers who marry before having children stay with their husband by the time the child is fifteen, compared to 44 per cent of those who marry after giving birth, and 31 per cent of those who never marry.

Mr Benson told Premier: "Amongst the poorest sections [of British society], the lowest 20 per cent... only a quarter of people are married before they have babies, so this is whole thing is reinforcing itself and it's utterly disastrous for those especially in the north of England.

"Despite the fact most of our policymakers are in that higher income bracket, they're the ones who've been telling us for years and years and years that it makes no difference whether we get married or not before we have children, and yet almost all of them are getting married themselves.

"So in a way this is kind of like a modern-day Pharisee speaking to us, saying: 'do as I say, not as I do'.

"We need to regain confidence in marriage, and we need to be telling our children 'Hey, what are you doing? If you're living together you ought to be getting married.' It's the ultimate step of dedication."

Listen to Premier's Aaron James speaking to Harry Benson here:

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