Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Lynne Featherstone today joined party leader Charles Kennedy MP at the launch of new plans to help working mothers after the birth of their first child. They also visited the Gower School, a nursery school in Islington, to discuss the new policy with local parents.

The Liberal Democrat ‘Maternity Income Guarantee’ will mean that hundreds of working mothers in Haringey would be paid at least £4,420 for the 26 weeks of statutory maternity leave when they are starting a family. This equates to £170 per week, the equivalent of the gross income of the minimum wage for a 35-hour week.

Around 200,000 working women nationwide have their first baby every year. Under the Maternity Income Guarantee, the majority would be significantly better off – and not one would lose out.

Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

“Today we put in place a new policy which is an important part of the childcare jigsaw – helping working mothers in the first months after the birth. We are proposing a radical reform of maternity pay provision for the first-born child:a reform which will particularly benefit women on low incomes.

“Our Maternity Income Guarantee forms a solid base for working women to plan their first baby’s first months. It will help to prevent this most exciting of times for new parents being marred by the financial worry that can so often accompany it.

“For single mothers, for low-income families, for all working women who want the best for their new family, the choice of our Maternity Income Guarantee will reward them with a working wage for the first 6 months of their first child’s life.”

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat candidate in Hornsey and Wood Green said:

“There are very substantial costs involved in having your first child, and the Liberal Democrats are guaranteeing real financial security for a full six months.

“We recognise that bringing up your first child is a tough job and this needs to be reflected in a proper maternity pay package. Tens of thousands of working mothers would benefit from our proposals every year, particularly those with lower incomes.

“We are committed to giving mothers the choice to spend more time at home in their child’s early months, without feeling financially pressurised to return to work.”

Notes:

Liberal Democrats would give working families having their first child the option to have the mother stay at home for 6 months with an income equivalent to minimum wage. Becoming a parent for the first time is a daunting task and giving new working parents more support has benefits for them, their babies, their employers and the economy.

The Liberal Democrat ‘Maternity Income Guarantee’ will guarantee all working mothers will be paid at least £4,420 for the 26 weeks of statutory maternity leave when they are starting a family.This equates to £170 per week, the equivalent of the gross income of the minimum wage for a 35-hour week.

At present, statutory maternity pay is 90% of salary for six weeks and £102 for another 20 weeks. For those working women on higher salaries, for whom the current system provides more than the Maternity Income Guarantee, the Statutory Maternity Pay system would still be available.They could continue with the current system, if it suits them.

But the Maternity Income Guarantee would mean for every woman who earns less than £22,000, this would mean more money when her first child is born. For example a woman on a salary of £14,000 will receive more than £900 extra over the 26-week period.

Around 200,000 working women have their first baby every year.Under the Maternity Income Guarantee, the majority would be significantly better off – and not one would lose out.