Sept News: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HUNGARY - Marriage Foundation

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Sept News: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HUNGARY

DURING LOCKDOWN, marriage rates fell in every country across Europe except one. Hungary now has the highest marriage rates in Europe after a 3%

Harry Benson

DURING LOCKDOWN, marriage rates fell in every country across Europe except one. Hungary now has the highest marriage rates in Europe after a 3% rise in 2020 and 92% rise over ten years. Our report received extensive media coverage in the Sunday Telegraph, Mail on Sunday, Sun, Mailonline, BBC radio, ITV’s Good Morning Britain, and my article for The Conservative Woman.
BIRTHS OUTSIDE MARRIAGE in England & Wales jumped to 51.3% in 2020 from 49.0% in 2019. The trend away from marriage continues. But this big jump looks like a consequence of weddings postponed because of lockdown. Don’t be surprised to see the figure drop below 50% in 2021 or 2022.
COHABITING COUPLES should automatically have similar rights to married couples, says the Women and Equalities Committee. But we think their proposal of an ‘opt-out’ fundamentally clashes with the ‘opt-in’ nature of commitment and reflects lazy thinking.
THE LAW COMMISSION announced their final proposal to deregulate weddings, so that the celebrant is licenced rather than the venue. This will help cut costs, as Sir Paul Coleridge commented in his letter to the Times (see below).
MARRIAGE remains as important as ever as the strong foundation of a healthy society. Our research proves it and attracts a great deal of media coverage. Would you consider a monthly standing order to support us? Please click here

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Family breakdown costs £50bn a year

When couples split up, families move from one to two households. Poverty is a common outcome that affects children. Six out of ten lone parents are supported by the state compared to one out of ten couple parents. That's where most of the £50bn is spent.

UK Among highest family breakdown in Europe

Five years ago, the UK had the highest rate of family breakdown in Europe. We're not doing as badly today, but only because of big falls in divorce rates. Alas there's no sign of a similar improvement among cohabitees

Lower Divorce Rates – Higher Lone Parents

Divorce rates have plummeted over the past 3 decades, but the number of lone parents has doubled in the same period. Why?... Because unmarried parents make up only one in five cohabiting parents but are responsible for one half of all family breakdown.

Stability is found in Marriage

Whereas stability is the norm if parents are married (75% stay together), it is the exception if they are not (30% stay together). As a result, among parents of teens who are still together as a couple, nine out of ten are married

Single Most Important Factor

The single most important factor in a child’s healthy development is the stable relationship of the parents. Our groundbreaking research shows that family breakdown is the #1 predictor of teenage mental health problems.

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