Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equality, responding to today’s announcement by Nicky Morgan on tackling the gender pay gap, said:

“2018 is far too long for women to wait when the UK gender pay gap remains well above the EU average. At this rate it will be another 47 years until the gap is closed, so we haven’t a moment to lose. The Tory Government’s approach simply isn’t good enough for women.

“While Nicky Morgan likes to claim there is nowhere left to hide for gender inequality, it is her government’s policies that have consistently worsened and entrenched economic inequality for women.

“81 per cent of savings through tax and benefit changes since 2010 have come from women, maternity discrimination is out of control on the Government’s watch and domestic violence and rape crisis centres have closed across the country because of a lack of long term, sustainable funding.

“While the measures announced today go some way to address the UK’s gender pay gap, these announcements fight against a tide of Tory policies which are hitting women hardest.”