Labour

Disappointing to see the UK slipping down the rankings and lagging behind much of Europe when it comes to mothers and babies

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, commenting on the Save the Children report 'The State of the World's Mothers 2013', said:

"It is extremely disappointing to see the UK slipping down the rankings and lagging behind much of Europe when it comes to mothers and babies. This shows how damaging it is for the Government to take so much support away from new mothers.

"Save the Children are clear that poverty and inequality in the UK are affecting pregnant women's health and also levels of maternal and infant mortality.

“Yet new mothers have been hit hard by Government policies - losing on average £1,700 during their baby’s first year because of the changes including cuts to child tax credits, the Health in Pregnancy grant, child benefit and cuts to Sure Start and only last month the new Mummy Tax which cuts maternity pay.

“David Cameron and George Osborne need to recognise the damage their policies and their economic failure are doing to mothers and children, and think again.”