UK's Low Birth Rate Poses Serious Threat, Says Conservative MP Miriam Cates

Conservative MP Miriam Cates spoke at a conference in London about the UK's low birthrate, which she called the generation's most urgent policy concern.
The MP blamed the situation on "cultural Marxism," which deprives young people of all hope and damages their souls.
A recent Ipsos study found that over half of UK individuals between 18 and 50 do not plan to have children, citing financial limitations and personal reasons as the primary factors.

Conservative MP Miriam Cates discussed the UK's low birthrate and how it is the generation's most urgent policy concern at the National Conservatism conference in London.

She made the case that declining fertility rates constitute an existential danger to Western nations and gave various reasons for this. Housing shortages and a lack of family-friendly tax policies in the UK are major factors, according to Cates.

Miriam Cates cited the devaluation of parenting, young people entering university, and what she called the "mass indoctrination of young minds" as causes, according to The Guardian.

According to Cates, having stable employment, a place to live, and support from one's family, community, and country are not the essential requirements for beginning a family. She also believes that young people today need to be optimistic about the future, which she feels is not happening enough.

Cultural Marxism: A Serious Threat To Young Minds

MP Cates blames the situation on "cultural Marxism," which she found depriving the young people of all hope. She contends that cultural Marxism, which she claims is deliberately damaging children's souls, cannot be resisted by liberal individualism.

She continued by stating that it is understandable why the upcoming generation is plagued by mental health issues, self-harm, suicide, and outbreak rates of anxiety and confusion when schools and universities openly impart that the UK is racist, its heroes are enemies, humanity is destroying the earth, and diversity is theology.

When questioned whether UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed with Cates' worries, Downing Street cited the most recent issues Cates had brought up with the prime minister on sex education in schools.

According to Sunak's official spokesperson, the Department for Education is developing further guidance for schools and teacher assistance since it is aware of the serious concerns in this area.

UK's Low Birth Rate Backgrounder

A recent Ipsos study found that over half of UK individuals between the ages of 18 and 50 do not plan to have children, suggesting a major decline in the birth rate. Forty-six percent of respondents to the study said they either had no desire to have children or had made the decision not to have any more.

Financial limitations were indicated as the primary reason by more than 50% of respondents, while 66% offered "personal reasons," such as feeling too young or elderly or being terrified by the notion.

In the UK, the birth rate has fallen from 1.94 children per woman 10 years ago to 1.61 now, raising worries about an aging population that will put further demand on the economy and healthcare facilities, according to Daily Mail.

Environmentalists say that a declining population would reduce carbon emissions and enhance the quality of life.

According to 62% of respondents, making daycare free or cheaper would motivate individuals to have more kids.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development reports that UK childcare costs over half the typical parent's salary, compared to 20% in other European nations.

The number of births has begun to decline progressively, even though the fertility rate in the EU grew by 8% over the previous 20 years, per Euronews.

In 2021, 4.09 million infants were born, the second-lowest amount since 1960. Between 2001 and 2021, 11 of the 27 EU member states had their fertility rates drop.