Can we get David Cameron back on here to talk about the affordability of childcare?

[uwila]

I think it would be a great campaign topic. And, if anything could sway people his way (or turn them away) this could.

Is there any chance of getting him back?

my cousin is a conservative who works for him... ill ask

watching with interest!

Me too.

you know what he's going to say. Something like ' Improvements in childcare and more rights for working mothers are one of our top priorities and we are committed to this agenda in our manifesto' or something equally banal.

I know ruty. Politicians have a tactic of always agreeing with you while offering nothing particular in the way of a solution.

bump

Having read many many posts by women, it occurs to me that the single biggest issue for our standard of living is affordable childcare. I know that being paid for staying at home is also an issue for many on here, but the majority of women with children do work.

Single parents, low income working couples, medium earners struggling on the housing ladder. Even high earning professionals who drop out of well qualified jobs once they work out it is better overall to stay at home once the nanny is taken into account (the 75k calc the other day?).

I am not judging anyone's worthiness. I think there should be a united campaign to get significantly cheaper childcare for all women. And by this I don't mean "difficult to apply for" means tested benefits etc. and limited numbers of free/cheap places for special selected cases, although these have a place. I mean simple, sweeping rules that make it cheaper. Making it completely tax deductible would be a start. A guaranteed fixed contribution for all families with certain age children would be another.

Giving tax relief might enable wages for people working in childcare to go up and therefore for them to feel more valued, as well as have a better standard of living - I think they deserve it.

I base this on comments made by people living in other European countries, talking of 1500 per year costs. This country is still run by men, for men. It is time for a change.