Marriage on the rocks

FORGET Brexit, forget the Budget. One development highlighted this week is likely to have a far deeper social and economic impact than anything the European Commission or Chancellor may throw at us.

This is the deeply worrying revelation that in some of the poorest areas of Britain, more than seven out of ten babies are born to unmarried parents.

As successive studies have shown, huge numbers of these will be abandoned by their fathers. And though the Mail accepts that many single mothers do an excellent job, all too many children of unmarried parents are condemned to a life sentence of low achievement, benefit dependency and problems with drugs, alcohol and crime.

Such is the legacy of Left-wing politicians who have systematically undermined marriage and presided over a welfare system that actively encourages single parenthood and reckless promiscuity.

Where are the leaders with the vision to promote marriage as the bedrock of fulfilled families and a stable society?