Liberal Democrats target the female vote

The Liberal Democrats have launched their party manifesto for women, promising to introduce a fairer Citizen's Pension and a Maternity Income Guarantee.

Launching the manifesto, Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, said: "These are areas of public policy which disadvantage women."

Mr Kennedy said that the "most glaring" of these areas was the pensions issue. He said: "Two 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."

The Liberal Democrats manifesto for women also includes plans to offer new mothers the option of receiving a Maternity Income Guarantee equivalent to the minimum wage of £170 per week for six months after the birth of their first child.

Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat PPC for Watford, said: “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."

However, Jacqui Smith, Labour's Deputy Minister for Women, said that the Liberal Democrats manifesto was offering "false promises to women".

Ms Smith said that families would "pay dearly" for these proposals, through increased taxes or reduced spending on public services such as health and education. She said: "Until they tell us where the money is coming from to pay for their endless list of commitments hardworking families shouldn't take seriously any pledge they make."

Ms Smith reminded voters that Labour had introduced schemes such as Child Tax Credit, Child Trust Fund and Sure Start, as well as extended maternity leave, paid paternity leave and flexible working.

She added: "Labour is committed to delivering greater choice and support to women and hardworking families by extending paid maternity leave, flexible working and childcare. Women in the Labour Party have made sure that women's issues are on the agenda and I think that's very good."

(KMcA/SP)