Vote in our Independent Women poll: Is it better for children to have married parents?

Each week, the Independent Women newsletter takes a closer look at the stories shaping women’s lives – from the moments that inspire to the issues that frustrate, challenge and spark debate.

Alongside my take and reflections from readers, the newsletter also features a weekly poll, giving our community the chance to weigh in on the topics behind the headlines and see how others are feeling.

You can vote in this week’s poll below. We’ll update this article weekly with the latest question and publish the final results once voting closes, so you can track how views change over time.

For more commentary on the week’s biggest talking points, make sure you’re signed up to the Independent Women newsletter.

Not subscribed yet? It’s free and easy to join – just head to our newsletter preference centre, press the ‘+’ button next to Independent Women, and enter your email address. You can also sign up via the email box at the top of this page.

Each poll runs for one week, with results published here once voting closes – so don’t forget to check back.

This week’s poll

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has sparked a row after saying it's “preferable” for children to have married parents “in an ideal world.” He made the comment while defending his party’s plan to prioritise married couples under 35 with children for social housing over single parents.

Asked whether a married couple should jump the queue ahead of a single parent, Tice told Times Radio: “Yes, that is the preference... Families are a good thing. Having British children, British-born children is a good thing. We need to encourage that.” Pressed on the fact that single people have children too, he added: “They might. But in an ideal world, it is well known that married couples – children in married couples, for example – will do really well at school.”

Not everyone agrees the marriage certificate itself is what matters. Major studies have found that where children of married parents do better at school, the advantage is more down to household income, parental education and family stability – not marriage itself.

Is Tice right that marriage is best for kids, or is he oversimplifying a much bigger picture? Vote in the poll below and join the conversation in the comments.

Want to share your thoughts – and be in with a chance of being featured in the newsletter? Click here to leave a comment.

Previous results

Would being tracked online make you feel safer?

• Yes – 33%
• No – 56%
• Not sure – 11%

Are baby bumps welcome on the red carpet?

• No – 21%
• Yes – 79%

Do we take women’s safety seriously enough?

• No – 88%
• Yes – 13%

Are there enough women in Andy Burnham’s new cabinet?

• No – 64%
• Yes – 36%

Do you have a favourite child?

• Yes, of course I do – 25%
• No, I love them equally – 37%
• I'm not telling – 38%

Should politicians ever take part in games like ‘shag, marry, date’?

• Yes – it shows they’re human – 37%
• No – it’s deeply inappropriate – 63%

Have you ever used (or would you use) weight-loss drugs?

• Yes – and I'm not ashamed – 31%
• No – but I would consider it – 31%
• Definitely not – 38%

Should the Equality Act be scrapped?

• No – 78%
• Yes – 22%

Is Reform a sexist party?

• Yes, they've made their views on women quite clear – 95%
• No, they're 'just saying what everyone's thinking' – 5%

Do you believe Nicola Sturgeon?

• Yes – 46%
• No – 54%

Are you an angry woman?

• Yes – 62%
• No – 10%
• Sometimes – 28%

Have you ever been insulted because of your gender?

• Yes – 94%
• No – 4%

Should you ever ‘ghost’ your relationship?

• No – people deserve honesty – 45%
• No – it’s never acceptable – 22%
• Yes – sometimes it’s the easiest option – 22%
• Yes – but only in extreme situations – 11%

Have you been to a ‘divorce party’?

• Yes – 82%
• No – 18%

Would you welcome a British ‘summer of sex’?

• Yes – 75%
• No – 25%

Could you forgive infidelity?

• No – 76%
• Yes – 24%

Are age-gap relationships always wrong?

• No – 53%
• None of our business – 44%
• Yes – 3%

Are you worried by the manosphere?

• Yes – 86%
• No – 14%

Are your kids vaccinated against meningitis?

• Yes, both – 100%
• No, they missed out – 0%

Do you feel comfortable talking about sex?

• Depends on circumstances – 57%
• No, how awkward... – 29%
• Yes, it's natural! – 14%

Do you homeschool your kids?

• No – 53%
• Yes – 47%

Do you want to reverse no fault divorces?

• No – 83%
• Yes – 17%

Do you WFH – or would you, if you could?

• Yes, I WFH all the time – 51%
• I am a hybrid worker – 23%
• I don't WFH – and I don't want to – 12%
• I don't WFH – but I'd like to – 14%

Were you shocked by the photos of Prince Andrew?

• Not really – 43%
• Not at all – 30%
• Yes – genuinely shocked – 24%
• Somewhat surprised – 3%

Will you be watching Melania Trump’s new movie?

• Not interested at all – 85%
• Yes, I’m curious – 13%
• Will wait for reviews – 2%

Was Brooklyn Beckham right to air family row?

• No, it should be private – 53%
• Yes, he had the right – 33%
• Both sides at fault – 8%
• Too messy to judge – 6%

Is ‘autistic Barbie’ good for representation?

• Yes – 60%
• No – 40%

Is Reform UK a good alternative to Labour?

• No – 74%
• Yes – 14%
• Neither, both fall short – 11%

Have you had the ‘superflu’?

• Yes – 56%
• No – 44%