Lad mags blamed for culture of bad fathers

Shadow education secretary Michael Gove said they undermined families by encouraging young men to see women as sex objects and to seek a life of "instant-hit hedonism".

With pages of jokes, crude comments about women and images of scantily clad celebrities, magazines aimed at men aged 18 to 30 have been a publishing hit in the past decade with half a million copies sold each week.

"I believe we need to ask tough questions about the instant-hit hedonism celebrated by the modern men's magazines targeted at younger males," Mr Gove said.

"Titles such as Nuts and Zoo paint a picture of women as permanently, lasciviously, uncomplicatedly available.

"We should ask those who make profits out of revelling in, or encouraging, selfish irresponsibility among young men what they think they're doing." Mr Gove contrasted the "shallow approach towards women" in lads mags with the "mature and responsible" attitude of women's magazines.

His comments are a rare foray into the debate on sexual morality by a senior Tory since David Cameron took over.

The party has steered away from appearing to sermonise since the disastrous "back to basics" campaign 15 years ago flushed out a series of sexual scandals involving Conservative MPs.

The attack came in a speech to the Left leaning IPPR think tank that criticised Labour for failing to tackle child poverty.

Mr Gove, one of the rising stars of Mr Cameron's team, was arguing that Labour had failed to tackle social and family breakdown, which was the biggest cause of children growing up in poverty or with poor future prospects.

He confirmed the Conservatives would seek to boost marriage by offering tax benefits to couples.