Parents, children, young people and the state

This book provides an exploration of the social policies and practices of the Blair and Brown-led Labour governments in relation to families, children and young people in the United Kingdom.

Although not a commentary solely on the policies of New Labour, the book examines Labour's 'Third Way', by widening out the debate to consider family welfare policies in the context of the European Union, globalization and international policy groups such as UNICEF. Within the UK, the Every Child Matters policy agenda provides a context for the areas considered.

While there has been considerable improvement in the lives of many children and young people during this period, there have also been many headlines about abuse and failures of the care system. Moreover, the UK is still below the average in terms of child poverty within Europe, and the well-being of children and young people is of concern.

The author has taken a rigorous look at policy developments during this period focusing on key areas such as: