Paul Morland, a well-known demographer and author, has expressed concern that political leaders are not addressing the issue of low UK fertility rates ahead of the general election. Instead of just focusing on immigration, politicians need to tackle the problem of low fertility rates in Britain. Morland believes that if the issue is ignored, the country could be heading towards severe demographic issues in the future, leading to a shortage of working-age individuals to support an increasingly aging population.
He pointed out that the fertility rates in the UK have been significantly below the required “replacement level” of 2.1 since the 1970s. This results in a shortage of British-born individuals entering the workforce, placing a significant financial burden on fewer and fewer people. Morland compared the situation to Japan’s shrinking and aging population, which poses a threat to its economic future.
Despite this, in recent times, some political actions, such as Home Secretary James Cleverly’s plan to reduce legal migration by raising the minimum salary for work visas, have shown no direct connection to addressing the issue of low fertility rates. Morland firmly believes that this neglect by the political leadership will continue as he does not anticipate any of the politicians to address the issue during or after the upcoming general election.
He also discussed how this issue aligns with a global demographic trend by saying that Africa’s population will exponentially rise in the next 50 years, while most of Europe and parts of Asia will see shrinking and aging populations. Morland emphasized that both major political parties in the UK seem hesitant to address this issue, as their approaches are dominated by different concerns.
While one part of the Tory party seems more focused on immigration reductions, another recognizes the need for a family policy. On the other side, Morland argues that the Labour Party, while also very hesitant to address the fertility rate issue, is influenced by feminists who are resistant to pro-natalism. He believes that the ideal society would be a blend between the high fertility of the ’50s and early ’60s and the rights and opportunities available to women today.