Cameron backs aid for young families

The "magic moment" of childbirth should be harnessed to bring families closer together, David Cameron will say tomorrow. The Conservative leader and father of three will use a speech on family life to argue that the party should offer support to new mothers and fathers and learn from projects abroad to help families stick together.

Mr Cameron, whose third child, Arthur, was born in February, will signal a shift away from Thatcherite principles of self-reliance towards intervention in family life. He will argue that the Government should offer support to families and help to improve relationships between parents and their children.

Aides said he was not arguing that all fathers should attend the births of their children, but was calling for greater support to new families after birth. He will point to studies showing greater help for new parents can strengthen families.