Johnson speaks on parenting

Updated 23.40 Tue Feb 27 2007

Keywords: parents, Alan Johnson, marriage

Parental support for children is more important than their marital status, according to Education Secretary Alan Johnson.

The Labour deputy leadership contender will argue that marriage represents the "pinnacle" of strong relationships but that it is not essential for good upbringing.

It's not who or what the parents are, it's what they do" - Alan Johnson

In a speech to relationship support group Relate, Mr Johnson will say that children should not be written off because they come from a broken home.

He will tell fathers they have a crucial role to play in bringing up their child, even if they have split up with its mother.

Mr Johnson, who was himself an orphan, will say: "Strong relationships provide the key to successful parenting and marriage represents the pinnacle of a strong relationship: requiring a public commitment between two people.

"But that does not mean that all children from married couples fare well, nor that every other kind of alternate family structure is irretrievably doomed to fail."

He continued: "Our family policy must be bias free. It's not who or what the parents are, it's what they do.

"Fathers are not optional extras in the family unit, and should not be regarded as such.

"When a parent gets involved in a child's education, it makes a huge difference."