While some European leaders are calling on citizens to have more children to rescue their economies, the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a very different approach—staying firmly out of the conversation.
Despite growing concern about Britain’s record-low birth rate, No10 made it clear: Starmer won’t be telling people how to live their lives.
No Lectures from No10 on Family Choices
Downing Street responded on Monday to growing discussion about the nation’s falling birth rate, sparked by remarks from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
While she called for more young people to consider starting families, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister quickly clarified that having children remains a personal decision—and one the government won’t interfere with.
“The PM has always said he won’t tell people how to live their lives,” the spokesperson added.
“Having a family is a personal and individual choice.”
Phillipson Warns of Broken Dreams and a Bleak Future
Phillipson’s comments came in an op-ed for The Telegraph, where she described the drop in fertility rates as not just a demographic concern, but a reflection of lost hope.
“It tells a story, heartbreakingly, about the dashed dreams of many families,” she wrote.
She also linked the trend to financial pressure—rising living costs, unaffordable childcare, and an unstable housing market—all of which are putting younger generations off from having children.
Fertility in Freefall Across the UK
According to the latest Office for National Statistics data, fertility in England and Wales dropped to 1.44 children per woman in 2023—the lowest level since records began in the 1930s.
That’s far below the 2.1 replacement rate needed to sustain a stable population.
Every single local authority in the two nations has seen declines over the last decade, indicating the issue is widespread and worsening.
France and Italy Are Taking a Different Route
While Starmer is taking a hands-off approach, other leaders in Europe are diving in.
French President Emmanuel Macron has introduced free fertility tests for 18 to 25-year-olds, and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni set a national target of 500,000 births per year.
But Downing Street says those countries’ policies aren’t the UK’s concern.
“It’s up to the French and Italian governments to explain their own strategies,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman said.
Childcare Reform on the Way, Says Education Secretary
Despite distancing the government from birth rate policy, Phillipson did signal that support for families could play a role in turning things around.
She unveiled plans to exceed the target of 4,000 new school-based childcare places this September.
Nearly 200 schools are preparing to open new rooms in just a couple of months.
She hopes these moves will help ease the financial pressure that’s making many young people hesitate to start a family.
A Shrinking Population Could Hurt the Economy
Experts have been sounding the alarm over the economic impact of Britain’s declining birth rate.
The Office for Budget Responsibility warned last year that fewer births could drive up national debt in the coming decades.
With more deaths than births expected by the mid-2030s, the country may have to rely on immigration to keep its population stable.
The fear is that a shrinking workforce won’t be able to fund pensions, health services, and care for an ageing population.
The Bigger Picture: Why Fewer Babies Are Being Born
Globally, the “baby bust” isn’t unique to Britain.
Across the West and beyond, more women are choosing to have fewer—or no—children at all.
Dr. Jennifer Sciubba, author of 8 Billion and Counting, says this is a permanent shift, and governments should focus on adapting to the new reality rather than trying to reverse it.
One major factor is education. As access to schooling and contraception has expanded, especially since the 1970s, family sizes have steadily shrunk.
“Education is the best contraception,” as one fertility expert put it.
Work, Housing, and Cost of Living Driving Delay
More women are now working than ever before—72% in the UK, compared to 52% fifty years ago—and many are delaying parenthood to focus on their careers.
In fact, the average age at which women have children has risen dramatically.
Women born in 1949 typically had children at 22, but those born in 1975 waited until 31.
Meanwhile, housing prices, childcare costs, and work-life balance struggles are making it increasingly difficult to start a family.
Many women have shared that they want to climb the career ladder before settling down—but often end up having fewer children than they’d originally planned.
Biology and Climate Anxiety Are Also Playing a Role
Fertility experts have also raised concerns about declining sperm counts and other biological changes that may be impacting people’s ability to conceive.
While some scientists blame environmental toxins, others argue the data is inconclusive and lifestyle choices are a bigger factor.
At the same time, climate change is becoming part of the conversation.
Some young people say they’re avoiding parenthood due to fear about the world their children would inherit.
One Stanford researcher even pointed to studies showing that nearly 40% of young adults are hesitant to have kids because of the climate crisis.
What Now for Britain’s Birth Rate?
While Starmer has made it clear he won’t be setting a national baby policy, voices within his Cabinet—and across society—are pushing for deeper conversations about the UK’s demographic future.
Whether through childcare reform or wider societal change, the challenge remains: how can Britain ensure that the choice to have children doesn’t feel out of reach?
As birth rates keep falling and the population ages, the answer may lie not in pressure or policy demands—but in giving people the security and support to choose family life on their own terms.