Widows turn on Cameron’s marriage giveaway

A letter from 70 widows and widowers in today’s Telegraph calls on David Cameron to scrap his proposed marriage tax break. Meanwhile, the “Don’t Judge My Family” campaign has released a new film featuring widows and single parents.

The letter to the Telegraph has been signed by over 70 widows and widowers including the chairs of the Widowed and Young Foundation, the National Association of Widows, and the founder of the Merry Widows Forum. It says:

“As widows and widowers from across the country, we welcome the election’s renewed focus on the family, but urge the Conservatives to rethink proposals to create financial incentives for married couples, and for all politicians to give more thought to the needs of those widowed..

“We are supporting the Don’t Judge my Family campaign, which highlights the potential consequences of this proposal, and recommending that public money should instead be spent to support children and families who need it most.”

As well as excluding widows, widowers, single parents, and cohabiting couples, the Institute for Fiscal Studies yesterday showed that 11.6 million married people will be excluded from the £150 giveaway because both husband and wife work. A further 4.8 million married people will miss out because one partner is a higher-rate taxpayer or neither are taxpayers. In total, the policy will only benefit a third of all married couples.

The film, produced by the “Don’t Judge my Family” features Imogen, a young widow, whose husband died at the age of 39, and Sarah, a single mother looking after three children whose marriage broke down due to the pressure of caring for a very sick child. Actress Michelle Collins also appears.

Watch it:

Caroline Doughty, Chair of the Widowed and Young Foundation, who coordinated the letter said:

“David Cameron said this policy was important because of the message it sends out. What kind of message does this send to widows? That we are less deserving of support than someone who still has their husband and wife?

“The benefits system already unfairly discriminates against widows. We’re calling on politicians of all parties to think about widows and other families in need during the election, married or not. Don’t judge our families – support them.”

http://twitter.com/andrewjazaerli/status/12998315998 Andrew Jazaerli

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/flame_me_up/status/12998417971 Barbara

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/kevosullivan/status/12998648245 kevin o sullivan

RT @LabourList: RT @Jo_Cox1: RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway http://bit.ly/cD2DYj #GE2010
http://twitter.com/bryonyvk/status/12998691872 Bryony Victoria King

RT @HouseOfTwitsLab: RT @leftfootfwd Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/katejoester/status/12998951112 Kate Joester

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows [& single parents] turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/sgodlum/status/12999055644 Sheryl Odlum

RT @Kerry4MP: RT @BenCooper86: RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/chrisdelahunty/status/12999998673 Chris Delahunty

Conservative's proposed marriage allowance is attacked by widows and other parents: http://bit.ly/9LUWax
http://twitter.com/jessica_asato/status/12998219628 Jessica Asato

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/12998231552 House Of Twits

RT @leftfootfwd Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/n0spin/status/12998240553 Kaje

RT @houseoftwits RT @leftfootfwd Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway & urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://tp5.n.0sp.in ;]
http://twitter.com/jo_cox1/status/12998514927 Jo Cox

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway http://bit.ly/cD2DYj #GE2010
http://twitter.com/pity_kitty/status/12998520207 Kathryn Hyde

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/campaigner/status/12998569619 Dan Fox

RT @Jo_Cox1: RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway http://bit.ly/cD2DYj #GE2010
http://twitter.com/labourlist/status/12998622131 LabourList

RT @Jo_Cox1: RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway http://bit.ly/cD2DYj #GE2010
http://twitter.com/cd909/status/12998626605 Clare

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/12998634996 Ben Cooper

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/kerry4mp/status/12998826840 Kerry McCarthy

RT @BenCooper86: RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/kevosullivan/status/12998917506 kevin o sullivan

RT @Kerry4MP: RT @BenCooper86: RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/rebelraising/status/12998938433 Kate Joester

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows [& single parents] turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/keeffan/status/12999031291 Jason Mcintyre

RT @Kerry4MP: RT @BenCooper86: RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway and urge "Don't Judge my Family" http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
Sue Davies

This is the best political video that I have ever seen… it has to get onto the mainstream media!
http://twitter.com/edmcgown/status/13029178316 edmcgown

RT @leftfootfwd: Widows turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway http://bit.ly/cD2DYj
http://twitter.com/friedasmailbox/status/13029152508 frieda

Widows and widowers turn on Cameron's marriage giveaway | Left …: 70 widows and widowers have today called on Da… http://bit.ly/blEPNh
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/message-to-cameron-dont-judge-our-families/ Message to Cameron: Don’t judge our families | Left Foot Forward

[...] campaign and supported by a letter from 70 widows and widowers, published in The Telegraph. As reported by Left Foot Forward, the letter expressed anger at the idea of families facing financial penalties [...]
http://samedifference1.com/2010/04/30/a-special-mothers-message-to-cameron/ A Special Mother’s Message To Cameron « Same Difference

[...] campaign and supported by a letter from 70 widows and widowers, published in The Telegraph. As reported by Left Foot Forward, the letter expressed anger at the idea of families facing financial penalties [...]
http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=6043 SOCIALIST UNITY » ON TAX REWARDS FOR MARRIAGE

[...] Cameron did not explain why his policy discriminates against lone parents and widows, excludes 11.6 million married people where both husband and wife work, and does nothing for the [...]