Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, commenting on analysis published by the Women’s Budget Group today, which shows female lone parents and single female pensioners will, on average, have seen their living standards fall by 20 per cent annually by 2020, said:

“Women have now borne a staggering 86 per cent of the cost of changes and cuts to taxes, tax credits and benefits since 2010, yet this Tory Government continues to refuse to conduct a proper gender impact analysis of its policies. The disproportionate impact on women gets worse and worse with every spending announcement.

“George Osborne has turned the clock back on women’s economic independence and equality. The Government must listen to Labour’s calls to conduct an urgent cumulative impact assessment of the Government’s policies on women and protected groups since 2010 and explain how they will reverse the damaging impact of their policies on women.”