Regards, Ivan
Posted on 09/18/2002 3:23:35 AM PDT by MadIvan
The Conservatives used Bridget Jones to put support for marriage at the heart of their policies for tackling the breakdown of society.
David Willetts, the party's spokesman for work and pensions, last night dismissed Left-wing claims that marriage was an outdated institution. He said that while young people were marrying later, increasing numbers of people followed the book and film heroine's route in looking for the right partner.
"If anything, we have higher hopes of marriage than ever before. We are taking longer to find the right partner, but still searching for that person with whom we want to spend the rest of our lives - just ask Bridget Jones."
Mr Willetts, the party's leading thinker on social policy, confirmed that the Tories were still attracted by the idea of a special tax break for married couples with young children.
At the last election, the Conservatives proposed a transferable personal tax allowance, worth £1,000 a year to many families. It would mean a mother or father who stayed at home to look after children under 11 would be able to transfer their tax allowance to the working spouse.
"We should recognise the good things that flow from the institution of marriage for society as a whole. We should not inadvertently or, even worse, deliberately undermine marriage. And there are ways we can support it directly, as we did before the last election with the transferable tax allowance," Mr Willetts said.
His speech to the Conservative think-tank Policy Exchange follows a fierce debate within the party over the extent to which the Tories should embrace alternative lifestyles in an attempt to show that they are more open and inclusive.
Mr Willetts tried to reconcile opposing viewpoints within the party, acknowledging that it should accept that many young people today preferred to cohabit in long-term relationships, although he indicated that marriage still provided the best background for bringing up children.
The speech will be seen as an indication that Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, has decided that the Conservatives should continue to make a positive declaration in support of marriage.
Mr Willetts praised Mr Duncan Smith's efforts to show that the Conservative Party was changing and demonstrate that it was concerned about the vulnerable in society. He said the remark, attributed to Margaret Thatcher, that "there is no such thing as society" had "hung around our necks for the past 15 years".
Mr Willetts echoed Mr Duncan Smith's accusation that Tony Blair's government had adopted a policy of "moral neutrality" towards the family. He said the "Blairite pundits" claimed that as a nation Britain was abandoning marriage - that it was relegated to "just another lifestyle choice".
Mr Willetts, who is married with two children, said he had read Bridget Jones's Diary and seen the film. The book, which began life as a column serialised in The Telegraph, is a fictional account of a thirtysomething single woman who works in the media and spends her life fretting about her romantic disasters and looking for Mr Right.
Regards, Ivan
That may appeal to young ladies, but I found Jane Austen unbelievably tedious when I was in school. I much preferred Charles Dickens at that age.
The original was a much better story. Elizabeth Bennett is a much more interesting character than Bridget Jones. OTOH, she's also virtuous. That may not go over well.
Well Pride and Prejudice was popular as a television series, even with the virtue. ;)
Regards, Ivan
It's a bloke thing, you wouldn't understand. ;)
And yes, I'm quickly wearing out my copy (all six episodes) of the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle version of P&P
Not entirely for the story, one presumes. ;)
Regards, Ivan
I take it from this post, however, you were actively exercising your imagination. ;)
Regards, Ivan
In some cases no publishing is required, as they are perfectly obvious. ;)
Regards, Ivan
I don't have to, when you say things about Colin Firth being "yummy". ;)
Well, there's a couple other British actors out there just as yummy as Firth. Although, none of them could have Darcy like he did. There's a scene in "An Ideal Husband" in the steam bath...nevermind. It's a chick thing.
Yes, it most definitely is. And this is a bloke thing:
;)
Regards, Ivan
I'll read a Freudian slip into both statements. ;)
Regards, Ivan
Well you started it. You bring up Colin Firth, I bring up the lovely Renee, and we counter from there. ;)
Regards, Ivan
That isn't the same as me bringing up Colin Firth. ;) Sorry, dear, but playing the diva this time around won't save you. ;)
grinning wickedly
And for the record, I'm waiting, impatiently, for a movie, film, whatever, with BOTH Colin Firth and Jeremy Northam. A little Rupert Everett wouldn't hurt. Talk about eye candy. Wouldn't quite be as delicious as last year's version of "Ocean's Eleven" but close.
Are you trying to bring on a blitz of Renee? ;)
Regards, Ivan
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