Harry's Blog

Today the Conservative party announced (open in a new window) it was considering a policy to give married couples a £20 tax break.

Of course this has caused consternation across the political spectrum. Despite being a miserly amount of money the general opinion - from what I can gauge from listening to as much of the 5Live phone-in as I could stomach - is that this is an evil idea?

Why?

Well there's no such thing as an absolute good or absolute evil anymore. And daring to suggest that marriage is the most stable and loving environment for raising children is akin to announcing you're a paedophile.

Gosh we might offend people who aren't married by suggesting marriage is a good thing. The blessed union? More like a refuge for religious cranks according to the listeners of 5Live.

Not all marriages work, that is true. But in these postmodern days the idea that there's something inherently wrong with marriage seems to be taking hold.

Of course the loudest voices on this issue are unmarried couples justifying their position. I really couldn't give two stuffs whether you co-habit or not, I just don't care either way, but this criticism of marriage in today's society just really gets on my nerves.

Even worse is that so many people say it just doesn't matter. It mattered a heck of a lot to L and I, it was no mere empty ceremony or piece of paper. And should I be blessed once again to marry it will mean just as much. Marriage is a spiritual and romantic union that provides a wonderful framework of love, trust, passion, honour and companionship. It really can't be beaten.

5Live had a vicar on to explain the Church of England's position and I don't think she did a great job. She, hedged her bets a bit too much in that Anglican tradition of trying to be all things to all people and thus not sounding like the church had a position at all.

However she did explain the religious metaphor of marriage being a symbol of God's love, which was something at least.

Perhaps though I'm being too harsh on society and looking at this the wrong way. In the past couples were expected to marry, it was the default position, the obvious ultimate destination for a romantic relationship. So in some sense it wasn't that special.

In a world where there is no such thing as an absolute good, where people scoff at the idea of a solemn loving commitment, perhaps it's a great time for marriage. After all, when society gives the impression marriage is for the mad, swimming against the tide in the cause of love is a huge statement.

Maybe we should make it harder to get married. Perhaps the Tories have missed a trick. Instead of offering a £20 a week tax break, perhaps the party should suggest that married couples have to pay £20 a week or more.

Am I mad? No, what I'm suggesting is that rather than make it easier to marry we should make it harder, make couples have to jump through all manner of official hoops, and find themselves financially worse off.

And then the only reason to marry would be for love, and that can't be a bad thing can it?