Clem Henrickson is perhaps uniquely positioned to write this powerful, comprehensive and authoritative analysis of family policy. This accessible and largely readable study provides the attentive reader with an understanding of recent family policy placed within an international context, drawing on European policy material in particular.

The book is relatively short and easy to read given its breadth and depth of coverage. The material is organised into six chapters. Following a comprehensive introduction which establishes six principles for a progressive and humanistic approach to family policy, the second chapter moves on to explore the changing policy landscape under the New Labour government. This second chapter provides a comprehensive overview of New Labour policy, only marred by a mysterious use of tiered sub-headings which I couldn't quite follow! Henrickson concludes that, ‘New Labour had ushered in progressive family policy with major aspirations’ (2012: 37).

The third chapter has the rather mysterious and clumsy title ‘What was the root of it?’ The ‘it’ referred to is New Labour family policy. The roots of New Labour policy, according to Henrickson, are to be found within ‘social liberalism’, together with a combination of ‘support and control’ elements. Chapter 4 examines the legacy of New Labour family policy and how this has changed under the Coalition government. The author uses the same major headings as in the previous chapter – ‘social liberalism’ and ‘support and control’ – to analyse what she argues is the less coherent and more contingent approach to family policy taken by the British Coalition government.

A further strange and imprecise title introduces Chapter 5, ‘What was Wrong?’, this time referring to the New Labour policy direction. Henrickson here provides a balanced assessment and critique of New Labour's record which explores the use (or misuse) of the target culture and their ‘unrealistic expectations’ of impact, in particular in relation to poverty and inequality. The critique presented in this chapter is used as springboard for Chapter 6 which is entitled ‘Looking to the future’. Here Henrickson argues that there are four potential components of a progressive family policy. First, that family policy should have the clear aim of promoting family well-being. Second, there should be a rights-based approach that can address tensions within families. Third, there should be a focus on family well-being based in comprehensive and regular public consultation. Finally, there should be new typology which, ‘would reflect and provide both an analytical and advocacy tool for this reframed approach to family policy’ (2012: 132). The final chapter concludes and brings together the preceding discussion. This chapter outlines nine clear and achievable steps towards a progressive and humanistic family policy. The main underpinning approach is that family policy should be an end in itself – not a tool for delivering other political goals. The argument concludes ‘that enhanced understanding and clarity of purpose in the relationship between government and family has benefits that justify the rigour and discomfort of change’ (2012: 149).

In the round, this book offers comprehensive tour of family policy – grounded in the UK but contextualised much more widely in European and global policy. The author utilises her experience and all-round knowledge remarkably well. Reading the book would benefit everyone from the first year undergraduate through to senior academics and researchers who are unlikely to have the breadth of knowledge that Henrickson possesses. A great strength is the strong, and feasible, policy suggestions that the author proposes. Her policy suggestions could easily form the basis of an achievable political manifesto commitment. My only gripe with the book is the strange use of titles and headings. The chapter headings just didn't work for me and were not fully descriptive of the aims, objectives and achievements of the chapters. The sub-titles within the chapters were difficult to follow: the different level of headings were hard to distinguish, not covered on the contents page and didn't seem to flow easily. The book needed a good sub-edit to make it slightly easier to follow and navigate around.

Putting aside these minor reservations I would fully recommend this book to all those with an interest in family policy and how it can be revised, developed and measured. Henrickson has written a book that she is probably uniquely situated to deliver: it will reward in-depth study.