Plans to give childcare vouchers to families with two working parents were branded ‘deeply insulting’ to stay-at-home mothers last night.
George Osborne will today unveil a scheme to hand up to £1,200 of taxpayer-funded childcare per child to families where both parents have a job, in a bid to encourage women back into the workplace.
But the Chancellor was accused of ‘stigmatising’ mothers who stay at home to care for their children, and of ‘discriminating against’ traditional families. One critic said it was a ‘further example of how out of touch he is’.
Under the plans, the scheme will be available to double-income households where neither parent earns more than £150,000 – meaning families with incomes of up to £300,000 could still benefit.
This is in sharp contrast to the cuts to child benefit, which have hit the incomes of families where just one parent earns more than £50,000.
Campaigners say the double standard shows the Government does not value the parenting role of stay-at-home mums, and today’s plans are another insult to women who choose to leave work to raise their children. » | Tim Shipman | Sunday, August 04, 2013
