The welfare secretary James Purnell will accuse the Tories of 'social engineering' as a response to their policy of tax incentives for married couples.
The Conservative policy of rewarding married couples with tax breaks will be attacked by the work and pensions secretary James Purnell today.
Mr Purnell is set to accuse the Tories of "social engineering", adding that the party "should be trying to help all families out of poverty". Conservative leader David Cameron claims that the current welfare system, which offers greater care to single parents, acts as an incentive for couples to separate.
"His policy wouldn't work - marriage is about more than a tax break," he will say. "And it would discriminate against other families - for example widows or single parents whose partner had walked out, or been thrown out for being violent."
Mr Purnell also believes that the Tories see welfare reform as a "piggy bank", from which they can fund "their latest pet projects".
He will make the claims and reveal the next phase of the government's welfare reforms when he tours the Dewsbury Moor estate, scene of the Shannon Matthews kidnapping case. Mr Purnell will meet with some of the residents who helped search for Shannon.
The nine-year-old was later found by police. Her mother, Karen, and accomplice Michael Donovan were later jailed for kidnapping the girl.
