Lads' mags fuel rise in feckless fathers, say Tories

Education spokesman Michael Gove said titles such as Zoo and Nuts reinforced a 'shallow approach' to women, and linked them to a rise in feckless fatherhood and family breakdown.

In a high-profile speech on family and society, Mr Gove also accused Gordon Brown of undermining communities through an obsession with state control.

Naked ambition: Michael Gove blames 'lad mags' like Zoo and Nuts for feckless fathers by encouraging young men to view women as sex objects

Mr Gove said the Tories saw stable families as a 'route to greater equality and opportunity' and pledged to support them through the tax system.

He told the Institute for Public Policy Research in London: 'Helping adults commit and stay committed not only opens the door to a depth of emotional enrichment which a series of shallow and hedonistic encounters can never generate, it also provides the best possible start in life for children.'

The drive to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies should be focussed on making young men face up to their responsibilities, he said, beginning with lads' mags.

Family values: The shadow education secretary castigates these magazines for their 'instant-hit hedonism'

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

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

'The images they use and project reinforce a very narrow conception of beauty and a shallow approach towards women.

'They celebrate thrill-seeking and instant gratification without ever allowing any thought of responsibility towards others, or commitment, to intrude.

'The contrast with the work done by women's magazines, and their publishers, to address their readers in a mature and responsible fashion, is striking.

'We should ask those who make profits out of revelling in, or encouraging, selfish irresponsibility among young men, what they think they're doing.

'The relationship between these titles and their readers is a relationship in which the rest of us have an interest.'

In his wide-ranging speech, he said Labour's use of central targets and Whitehall control for public services had led to distant government lacking a 'human face'.

Mr Gove used former prime minister Baroness Thatcher's controversial declaration that there was 'no such thing as society' to attack Mr Brown.

The shadow schools secretary also clalimed the education system was failing people from deprived backgrounds, leading to greater inequality.

'The sad truth is that if you are eligible for free school meals you're almost 200 times more likely to leave school without a single GCSE pass than you are to get three As at A-level.'

He said schools were becoming 'Starbucks-style' outlets delivering 'pre-packaged learning' because of state control and promised the Conservatives would deliver greater parental choice and more freedom for headteachers.

Mr Gove said there was a 'growing breach' between the rich and poor and called for a better relationship between those at the top and bottom of society - like 'the John Lewis partnership'.

He added: 'But I do believe that we need to ensure that with a culture which encourages, facilitates and celebrates success there's also a parallel culture of responsibility, reciprocity and respect. Of those to whom much is given, much is expected.'