Labour

Warm words from Cameron are not enough when his own Government policies are holding both women and the economy back

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary & Minister for Women and Equalities, ahead of David Cameron's speech on women in business today, said:
 
"Increasing the number of women on boards is important, and helps business and the economy. But warm words from the Prime Minister are not enough when the reality is that his own Government policies are holding both women and the economy back. And 32,000 women chose not to look for work last year because of the costs associated with working, including childcare.

“Government economic policy has pushed women's unemployment up to record levels, and 32,000 women chose not to look for work last year because of the costs of working, including child care. As long as the Government is weakening action on the gender pay gap, pushing up women's unemployment, cutting support for childcare, and exploring options for weaker maternity rights, they are making it harder not easier for women to get promoted throughout their lives. And that makes it much harder to get women to board level too.

“The Prime Minister needs to wake up to the real impact of his policies on women up and down the country."