Lib Dems launch campaign for women's votes

10.50.29pm GMT Sun 27th Feb 2005

Charles Kennedy MP, Liberal Democrat Leader, has launched his Party's manifesto for women. Amongst the proposals are plans to introduce a fairer Citizen's Pension, a Maternity Income Guarantee, and free long-term care for the elderly, helping both those in need and their carers.

Women's votes are set to play a key role at the General Election. Women are consistently more likely to vote than men, and are also more likely to use their vote tactically.

Mr Kennedy said:

"There are areas of public policy which disadvantage women. Perhaps the most glaring of these is pensions. 2 million pensioners in Britain currently live below the Government's own poverty line - two-thirds of whom are women.

"Pensions are currently calculated on the basis of how many years you have worked. Years spent caring for children are currently ignored when women reach pensionable age. We propose a Citizen's Pension, based on residency not on contributions.

"Crime and worries about safety on our streets come at the top of women's concerns too. We would put 10,000 more police officers on the streets and keep them there longer by cutting down on unnecessary paperwork. We would strengthen anti-social behaviour measures so that they not only punish but also tackle the causes of bad behaviour."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Women, Sandra Gidley MP, added:

"Women make up nearly half the working population, but don't have the flexibility in the way they work to balance family commitments too.

"We would offer new mothers the option of receiving a Maternity Income Guarantee equivalent to the minimum wage of £170 per week for the 6 months after the birth of their first child."

Jenny Willott, Liberal Democrat PPC for Cardiff Central, said:

"Unequal pay makes student debt harder on women, with female graduates earning on average 15% less than their male counterparts at the age of 24. Young women would particularly benefit from our policies to scrap top-up and tuition fees, which would make university affordable for everyone."

Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat PPC for Watford, added:

"Women's votes will be crucial at the next General Election, particularly in key marginal seats like Watford. Women voters are fed up with the tit-for-tat fighting between Labour and the Conservatives.

"Young women voters growing up under the Conservatives tell us that they have seen no policy changes under New Labour. They are

disillusioned with Labour's failure to deliver, and the Conservatives' inability to form a credible opposition.

"They don't want to be forced to worry about student debt, they don't want to live in a nanny state that makes them carry ID cards, and they tell us they can't trust a Government that misled the country about going to war in Iraq."