[user104658]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..that isn't true either though, 'back in the day' weren't halcyon days..it may have been so for some people but not everyone, you just can't generalise that...

I said they used to "be able to", as in, it was possible, even if only for some.

A single full-time earner on todays full time (40 hour, which is ambitious) minimum wage of (£6.31 x 40 x 52 weeks / 12 months = ) £1.093.75 before tax and National Insirance, it is impossible to run a family home. Impossible, full stop. The income divide is widening and traditionally better paid menial roles are quickly approaching, or already at, minimum wage. My point still stands. The concept of "only those who can afford it without top-ups" having children is economically not viable. The system would not work. it would simply collapse.

The government (by which I mean, all governments - "politics" in general) knows this - that's why Tax Credits (and council housing / housing benefits) exist in the first place... to prop up an economy that depends upon a large stock of low income, economically stagnant "worker bees".