Minister Challenges Reform UK’s Family Policy Claims
Olivia Bailey, the government’s early years minister, has described Reform UK’s “pro-family” policies as a sham that excludes non-traditional families. Her remarks come ahead of the launch on Monday of hundreds of new Sure Start-style family centres across England.
Bailey emphasized her commitment to creating inclusive hubs that serve all families and revitalize communities. She criticized the previous Conservative government for what she termed the “criminal” dismantling of Sure Start.
“Sure Start is one of our proudest achievements as a 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.”
As an equalities minister and adoptive parent of two children with her wife, Bailey expressed concern about the potential negative impact a Reform government might have on gender equality and LGBTQ+ families.
“I do worry about Reform,” she said. “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.”
Bailey referenced the appointment of a rightwing theologian known for opposing abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or serious health risks, as well as comments from Reform MP Danny Kruger, who has described the UK as being influenced by an “appalling Hamas-supporting, LGBT-supporting nationalist party.” She warned that Reform’s policies could have a “chilling effect on the rights of women.”
“They are not the party that is going to stand up for families like mine, for families of all different shapes and sizes,” she said. “I do worry that Reform will just turn the clock back.”
Best Start Hubs to Launch Across England
Speaking at the busy Harmood family hub in Camden, north London, Bailey outlined the government’s plans for the new centres. These hubs will offer parents access to services such as childcare, health support, parenting advice, and more. The Harmood hub serves as a model for the first 200 of 1,000 new centres set to open across England starting Monday.
The initiative is supported by nearly £1 billion in funding, including £500 million allocated specifically for these hubs. Bailey clarified that the new centres will not be a direct replication of Sure Start, which reached about 3,600 sites under Gordon Brown’s leadership, but will collaborate with private and voluntary childcare providers while maintaining the same overarching goals.
A study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that children who lived near a Sure Start centre during their early years achieved better GCSE results, had fewer hospital visits, and missed less school. However, over 1,400 of these centres were closed from 2010 onwards.
“It was absolutely criminal what the Conservatives did to Sure Start. It gutted the heart out of communities across the country,” Bailey said. “Parents tell me they feel like they are passed around between services and don’t know where to go to get help [but] Best Start hubs are driving this connection between services, and driving this sense of community again.”
Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs
The hubs will also play a role in the government’s plans to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A £200 million fund will provide a family-facing SEND practitioner in every hub.
“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,” Bailey explained.
Addressing Early Years Development Concerns
Early childhood development has become an increasing concern among educators and policymakers. Recent data indicates that approximately one in four children starting reception in 2025 are not yet toilet trained. The government has set a target for 75% of children to be school-ready by 2028; currently, only 68.3% meet this standard, according to the latest Department for Education figures.
Starting Monday, ministers will impose specific statutory targets on local authorities to improve the proportion of children achieving a “good level of development” by the end of reception. This includes being toilet-trained and able to communicate effectively. Councils will also be required to develop local Best Start plans outlining how they will collaborate with other organizations and allocate funding to support children up to five years old.
Personal Experience and Vision for Inclusivity
Bailey, whose own children attended a maintained nursery that was formerly a Sure Start centre, expressed a desire for all parents to benefit from similar positive experiences.
“As an LGBT family, I was worried about whether I’d be accepted, but we found a real sense of belonging and community,” she said. “I got so much strength from the help that I got, and I want that for everyone.”
