New figures published today show that David Cameron’s policies have hit women hardest.

House of Commons Library analysis following the Autumn Statement confirms that 85 per cent of the Tory-led government’s cash this Parliament from changes to direct taxes and benefits has come from women, thanks to George Osborne’s policies.

£22 billion out of a total revenue of £26 billion has come straight out of women’s pockets.

Further House of Commons analysis shows that Labour policies to boost family finances will actually benefit women:

• 3.9 million (61 per cent) of the 6.3 million people who will benefit from the increase of the minimum wage to £8 will be women.

• Tax incentives to employers to pay the living wage will also help women as a quarter of working women earn less than the living wage, compared to one in six men.

• Labour’s plan to scrap the married couples tax allowance, in favour of a 10p starting rate of tax will give £132 million a year to women.

Women still earn less than men and dominate low income jobs meaning Labour’s policies to tackle the root-causes of low pay, and take action on the gender pay gap will see women as the biggest winners.

Gloria De Piero MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, who commissioned the latest figures said:

“The verdict’s in on this Tory-led Government’s record for women. Whilst Cameron and Clegg’s decisions have hit women hardest, Labour will ensure support for women and families IS at the heart of everything we do. Women and families will be big winners from a Labour Government, whether it’s raising the Minimum Wage to £8, banning exploitative zero-hour contracts, taking action on the gender pay gap, 25 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds of working parents and guaranteed access to breakfast and afterschool club childcare.”

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Notes to editors:

The research, conducted by the House of Commons Library audited the amount raised from 2011/12 to 2014/15 through direct tax and benefit measures, according to the Treasury’s estimates of the male/female breakdown of recipients and taxpayers, including changes to tax credits, and the beneficiaries from the married couples’ tax allowance.

Labour’s flagship policies to help women also include:

• Plans to require large employers to publish their pay gap are part of a range of measures designed to improve women’s position in the workplace.
• Increasing free childcare from 15 to 25 hours a week for three and four-year-olds of working parents and guaranteed access to wraparound childcare in primary schools will also benefit women, many of whom have found their careers impacted by the rising cost of childcare.