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| Coalition cuts hit older women hardest | Coalition cuts hit older women hardest |
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| Women over 50 are bearing the brunt of the government's economic policies while often trying to cope with the increasing burden of caring for relatives, according to research carried out by the Labour party. | Women over 50 are bearing the brunt of the government's economic policies while often trying to cope with the increasing burden of caring for relatives, according to research carried out by the Labour party. |
| Since the coalition came to power in May 2010, unemployment among women aged 50-64 has seen a huge 31% increase to 142,000, compared with an overall increase in all unemployed people over 16 of 4.2% to 2.6m, according to Office for National Statistics figures. | Since the coalition came to power in May 2010, unemployment among women aged 50-64 has seen a huge 31% increase to 142,000, compared with an overall increase in all unemployed people over 16 of 4.2% to 2.6m, according to Office for National Statistics figures. |
| In an interview with the Guardian on women's issues before Saturday's party conference, Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said the generation of women who fought for equal pay, improvements in childcare and maternity leave were being caught in a bind between caring for elderly parents and grandchildren at the same time as suffering from outdated workplace practices. "A toxic combination of sexism and ageism is causing problems for this generation," she said. | In an interview with the Guardian on women's issues before Saturday's party conference, Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said the generation of women who fought for equal pay, improvements in childcare and maternity leave were being caught in a bind between caring for elderly parents and grandchildren at the same time as suffering from outdated workplace practices. "A toxic combination of sexism and ageism is causing problems for this generation," she said. |
| Women as a whole have lost more jobs than men since 2010 (an estimated 11% increase) but women over 50 in particular have been hit hardest by the big cuts in local authority budgets. | Women as a whole have lost more jobs than men since 2010 (an estimated 11% increase) but women over 50 in particular have been hit hardest by the big cuts in local authority budgets. |
| The number of long-term unemployed (those out of work for 12 months or more) has increased by 105,000 to 904,000 since May 2010 and women make up 82,000 of the rise, or 78%, although men are still a majority of the unemployed overall. In contrast, unemployment among men above the age of 50 has barely changed since 2010 despite the overall increase and budget cuts. | The number of long-term unemployed (those out of work for 12 months or more) has increased by 105,000 to 904,000 since May 2010 and women make up 82,000 of the rise, or 78%, although men are still a majority of the unemployed overall. In contrast, unemployment among men above the age of 50 has barely changed since 2010 despite the overall increase and budget cuts. |
| As well as suffering from increased unemployment and changes to pension provisions, the over-50s are also dealing with the increasing life expectancy of their parents. | As well as suffering from increased unemployment and changes to pension provisions, the over-50s are also dealing with the increasing life expectancy of their parents. |
| In an attempt to help, the Labour party is to announce a social care information service for what it describes as a "true squeezed middle" as part of the launch of a special older woman's commission. Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the party and a long-term advocate on women's issues, will chair the commission. | In an attempt to help, the Labour party is to announce a social care information service for what it describes as a "true squeezed middle" as part of the launch of a special older woman's commission. Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the party and a long-term advocate on women's issues, will chair the commission. |
| Cooper, who has responsibility for women and equalities as part of her Home Office brief, said: "This is really a first step for women who don't even know where to go for help. They may have a mum in Bolton who increasingly needs help and support and they may live somewhere else and have no idea what to do. Whether it's the council, a voluntary organisation or just a neighbour, this information service will help." | Cooper, who has responsibility for women and equalities as part of her Home Office brief, said: "This is really a first step for women who don't even know where to go for help. They may have a mum in Bolton who increasingly needs help and support and they may live somewhere else and have no idea what to do. Whether it's the council, a voluntary organisation or just a neighbour, this information service will help." |
| The scheme is similar to the family information service piloted by the party in the early 1990s to publish information on childcare providers. | The scheme is similar to the family information service piloted by the party in the early 1990s to publish information on childcare providers. |
| David Cameron has come under fire for policies that make it harder for women to work and also for behaviour (criticising his rival Ed Miliband for not being "butch" enough or telling a female MP to "calm down dear" among them) that appears to patronise them. In an effort to stem falling support among women in the polls, he appointed an adviser on women's issues last year, but in the latest reshuffle he failed to increase their overall number attending the cabinet above the previous five. | David Cameron has come under fire for policies that make it harder for women to work and also for behaviour (criticising his rival Ed Miliband for not being "butch" enough or telling a female MP to "calm down dear" among them) that appears to patronise them. In an effort to stem falling support among women in the polls, he appointed an adviser on women's issues last year, but in the latest reshuffle he failed to increase their overall number attending the cabinet above the previous five. |
| An opinion poll for the Huffington Post this week suggested that Labour is ahead of the Tories by 22 points when it comes to looking after the interests of women. | An opinion poll for the Huffington Post this week suggested that Labour is ahead of the Tories by 22 points when it comes to looking after the interests of women. |
| Overall, about 34% say Labour is best at looking after the interests of women, compared with 12% for the Conservatives. This gap has widened from a six-point split on the issue in February 2010, when 26% backed Labour as best at supporting women, compared with 20% for the Tories – a swing of eight points. What's more, this view is held by both men and women. | Overall, about 34% say Labour is best at looking after the interests of women, compared with 12% for the Conservatives. This gap has widened from a six-point split on the issue in February 2010, when 26% backed Labour as best at supporting women, compared with 20% for the Tories – a swing of eight points. What's more, this view is held by both men and women. |
| In a speech at the pre-conference on Saturday, Cooper aims to take issue with the suggestion by Tory minister David Willetts that the first generation of women to benefit from changes in equality laws were somehow selfishly denying less educated men a chance to work. "These women are the very opposite of selfish. They are often the generation holding the whole family together." | In a speech at the pre-conference on Saturday, Cooper aims to take issue with the suggestion by Tory minister David Willetts that the first generation of women to benefit from changes in equality laws were somehow selfishly denying less educated men a chance to work. "These women are the very opposite of selfish. They are often the generation holding the whole family together." |
| In research done last year, Labour used parliamentary statistics to show that women contributed £11bn of the £15bn raised from changes to the tax and benefits system by the government since 2010. | In research done last year, Labour used parliamentary statistics to show that women contributed £11bn of the £15bn raised from changes to the tax and benefits system by the government since 2010. |
| Cooper has raised concerns that the introduction of universal credit, which gives no allowance for a second earned income, will act as a disincentive to working mothers, while targeting the main earner could lead to women who traditionally collected child benefit losing control of the family budget. "Changes are directed at the wallet rather than the purse," she said. | Cooper has raised concerns that the introduction of universal credit, which gives no allowance for a second earned income, will act as a disincentive to working mothers, while targeting the main earner could lead to women who traditionally collected child benefit losing control of the family budget. "Changes are directed at the wallet rather than the purse," she said. |
| The changes to tax and benefits come into force next April. The social care information service will start in Salford, and then the party plans to extend it across Labour-run authorities before the next election. | The changes to tax and benefits come into force next April. The social care information service will start in Salford, and then the party plans to extend it across Labour-run authorities before the next election. |
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