David Cameron is targeting working parents in his election campaign, promising 30 hours of free childcare per week for three and four-year-olds in his manifesto launch speech today.
As well as doubling the free childcare for parents in employment, which they claim is equivalent to £5,000 a year, the Conservatives pledge support to struggling workers by removing tax from childcare and the National Minimum Wage.
At the launch of the Conservative manifesto, the former prime minister said:
“We are the party of working people, offering you security at every stage of your life… It shouldn’t be a permanent struggle with the bills. That’s why our second commitment to working people is on childcare. For families with young children, this is not one issue among many – it is the issue.”
Cameron says that the funding to fulfil these promises will be paid for by “the changes we have made to curb pension relief for the highest earners.”
At the manifesto launch Robert Peston, economics editor at the BBC, tweeted:
Raid on pension tax-breaks of high earners raises £2bn plus, of which £1bn for inheritance tax & rest for childcare #ConservativeManifesto
— Robert Peston (@Peston) April 14, 2015
However, this tactic to address the perception problems of elitism the Tories face may not have done much to convince the public. Under the hashtag #ConservativeManifesto, responses on Twitter have been largely negative:
After so many lies in 2010 and subsequent broken promises, why would anyone believe anything that Cameron or a #ConservativeManifesto says?
— Ivan White (@ivanwhite48) April 14, 2015
#ConservativeManifesto has more unfunded spending commitments – see Controlling Migration Fund. How much & from where? Answer: unknown.
— Thom Brooks (@thom_brooks) April 14, 2015
#ConservativeManifesto a shameful plan to widen the wealth gap. Stabbing the poor in the back, to paraphrase the Tories.
— Jim Moores (@jimmoores) April 14, 2015
Although the offical polls have Labour pulling ahead, the results of HRreview’s poll to determine which party offers the best policies for a better workplace show the Conservatives currently have the lead.
What do you think? Vote in our poll below to decide the best government leader for HR.
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Steff joined the HRreview editorial team in November 2014. A former event coordinator and manager, Steff has spent several years working in online journalism. She is a graduate of Middlessex University with a BA in Television Production and will complete a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Westminster in the summer of 2015.
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