Cates told the Telegraph she cried when Sunak introduced his (admittedly imperfect) childcare policy. She's described it as unconservative and the policy she has been most troubled by over the last three years. Given the policy announcements over the last three years I find that surprising but there we are.
She then gives a speech about the need for more domestic births and incentivising women to stay at home. This incentivisation would presumably be in the form of tax breaks. I like to assume this would be available for all families not just "normative" ones but given the speeches were not recorded for public viewing who knows.
We have the third most expensive childcare in the world, vast energy costs, a housing crisis, mortgage rates hikes and food inflation. Returning to the workplace after two years may well prove extremely challenging. Add on another child - remember its our duty to keep producing given the falling birthrate is apparently the largest threat to Conservatives and Western Society! - and a further two year period away from work do we possibly think women will find it that much harder to move up?
Of course maternity leave legislation would need to be redrafted to preserve the right of return to two years otherwise that would render the policy largely useless for most.
Then there is the giant question of how massive those tax breaks need to be in order to persuade women to stay at home for two years.
And lastly why the bloody hell not offer tax breaks AND childcare reform?
Ideology. Thats why.
Its all very well saying it doesn't matter because they will be out of power.
But if Cates is the future of the Conservative party this is where she is headed.