Minister Condemns Reform UK's 'Pro-Family' Policies as Exclusionary Sham
Olivia Bailey, the early education minister, has launched a scathing attack on Reform UK's "pro-family" policies, labelling them an exclusionary sham that fails to support non-traditional families. Speaking ahead of the rollout of hundreds of new Sure Start-style family centres across England on Monday, Bailey emphasised her commitment to inclusivity for all families.
Inclusive Vision for Best Start Hubs
Bailey, who adopted two children with her wife and also serves as an equalities minister, expressed deep concerns about the potential impact of a Reform government on gender equality and LGBTQ+ families. "I do worry about Reform," she stated. "They say that they're the party of the family, but that's a complete sham. They say they support families, but I don't think they support families like mine."
She highlighted the appointment of James Orr, a rightwing theologian opposed to abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or serious health risks, and remarks by Reform MP Danny Kruger, who has criticised the UK's "unregulated sexual economy" and warned of leadership by an "appalling Hamas-supporting, LGBT-supporting nationalist party." Bailey added that Reform's plans to repeal the Equality Act would have "a chilling effect on the rights of women."
Rollout of Best Start Family Hubs
Speaking at the Harmood family hub in Camden, north London, Bailey described the one-stop-shop centre as a model for the first 200 of 1,000 new Best Start family hubs opening in England from Monday. These hubs, backed by almost £1bn in funding, including £500m specifically allocated, will offer services such as childcare, health support, parenting tips, and community connections.
Bailey contrasted this initiative with the "criminal" dismantling of Sure Start under the previous Conservative government, which saw over 1,400 centres closed from 2010 onwards. "Sure Start is one of our proudest achievements as a Labour party," she said. "Best Start is central to what we're trying to do as a government. For the first time in a long time, even ever, this is a government that is really focusing on the early years and making sure that we give every child the best possible start in life."
Educational and Developmental Goals
The new hubs are part of broader government efforts to improve early years development, addressing concerns such as school readiness. Recent surveys indicate that about one in four children starting reception in 2025 are not toilet-trained. Ministers have set a target for 75% of children to be school-ready by 2028, up from the current 68.3%.
From Monday, local authorities will receive specific statutory targets to increase the proportion of children achieving a "good level of development" by the end of reception, including toilet training and communication skills. Councils must also develop local Best Start plans to enhance child development up to age five, collaborating with various organisations.
Support for Special Educational Needs
Additionally, the hubs will play a key role in overhauling support for children with special educational needs, with £200m allocated for a family-facing Send practitioner in every hub. Bailey noted, "We saw with Sure Start that if you get that help with speech and language, or whatever it may be, to children early, it reduces the need for a Send diagnosis further down the track."
Reflecting on her personal experience, Bailey shared, "As an LGBT family, I was worried about whether I'd be accepted, but we found a real sense of belonging and community. I got so much strength from the help that I got, and I want that for everyone." She urged that the hubs not be mere copies of Sure Start but work with private and voluntary sectors to maintain the same ambitious goals.
