29th March 2011

‘Happy’ Mothers Day from Cameron and Clegg:

New mums now £1,000 worse off

Alan Keen MP is backing a campaign by the shopworkers union Usdaw to highlight the Tory-led Coalition’s cut in support for families that will leave new mums over £1,000 worse off.

Usdaw and Alan Keen MP are marking Mothers Day by pointing out that mums due to give birth from mid-April onwards will be £1,035 worse off because of the government’s freeze on Child Benefit and the abolition of the Child Trust Fund, Health in Pregnancy Grant and baby element of Child Tax Credit.

Lower income families expecting a second or subsequent baby will be even worse off as the Government has also abolished the £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant for these families.

Usdaw member Lesley Marsden had her first baby, Taliesin, in June last year and has since returned to work part-time. Lesley commented:

“I think it’s disgraceful the way the Government is cutting support to new mums such as the Health in Pregnancy Grant. Taliesin was born in June last year and the Grant was a real help. I relied on it to help buy the big things I needed for my new baby such as a cot and pushchair.  Luckily Taliesin just received the £250 Child Trust Fund in time before the Government cut and then abolished it.  I would never be able to afford a savings account for him otherwise.”

“It’s going to be even harder for new mums now. This Government are putting more and more pressure on single parents to go out to work but at the same time are making it so much more difficult by cutting vital financial support.  In a couple of weeks the baby element of Child Tax Credit will be abolished and that will make it even harder for me to make ends meet.”

Usdaw member Yvette Roberts-Booth added:

“Baby Kai was born in September and I am currently on maternity leave from my job as a cook. As a family we’re not in a position to save large sums and we were very disappointed that the help the Labour Government gave to parents to kick start savings accounts for their children’s future was one of the first things the Tory-led Coalition decided to cut.”

“Having a baby and raising a family costs a lot and I don’t think it’s fair at all that working parents are paying the price of the reducing the deficit.  Now I’m on Maternity Leave and I wonder how we survive financially. In a couple of weeks the baby element of Child Tax Credit will be abolished and that will make it even harder for us to make ends meet.” 

Alan Keen MP said:

“Before the election David Cameron said he wanted his government to be the most family friendly in UK history but as soon as he got into power he started cutting the vital support for new mums and babies Labour had introduced.

“The VAT increase and rising prices mean raising a family and making ends meet is getting harder every day. Adding to the financial pressures on new mums by taking over £1,000 off them is a disgrace and one of the most family unfriendly things any government could do.”

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary added:

“Over three quarters of our members juggle paid work with bringing up children and many of them rely on in-work benefits to make ends meet. Labour introduced a range of measures to ensure new mums and their babies, especially those on lower incomes, got the best possible start in life and it is a massive mistake by the government to now remove that support.”

“The cuts being faced by new mums mean it is vital Usdaw continues to campaign to make sure low income families claim the remaining benefits and Tax Credits they are entitled to. We will also be challenging the government to safeguard Child Benefit and pay benefits and Tax Credits at an adequate level.”

1. The table below summarises some of the key cuts in support to new mums:

2. For more information on Usdaw’s campaign, including a leaflet detailing government changes visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/adviceresources/resources/equalities/spcinthedarkaboutbenefit.aspx

Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fourth biggest trade union, with over 395,000 members. Usdaw is the country’s fastest growing trade union; membership has increased by more than 15% in the last four years and by over a quarter in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

CONTACT DAVID KEEN, OFFICE MANAGER, 02088904489