Lynne Featherstone warns against ditching family-friendly policies

Equalities minister says ‘hideous suggestions’ by David Cameron’s advisers must be swept away Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat equalities minister, has attacked the “hideous” ideas of David Cameron’s closest aides in a sign of coalition tensions over the government’s family policies. In a wide-ranging interview with the Observer , Featherstone said it was vital the coalition delivered on its family-friendly rhetoric, amid concerns that the government is haemorrhaging support among disillusioned female voters. In a forthright attack on some of the advisers shaping government policy, she criticised the role of Adrian Beecroft, a venture capitalist tasked with reporting to the prime minister on how to cut regulation on business. Beecroft is understood to have recommended a U-turn on government policies on shared parental leave and flexible working. The proposals, outlined in a white paper, would allow couples greater freedom to co-ordinate maternity and paternity leave. A separate proposal would make it easier to request flexible working hours. Featherstone told the Observer that Beecroft’s recommendation that the moves should be shelved was not acceptable and would be “swept away”. She also made her feelings clear over a recent “blue sky” proposal from Steve Hilton , the prime minister’s director of strategy, suggesting that the government could scrap maternity pay altogether. Featherstone said: “Well, I might talk about scrapping Steve Hilton.” Such language is a sign of growing concern within the government that it is looking out of touch with female voters and that those close to Cameron are not getting to grips with the problem. Beecroft was brought into Downing Street over the summer to offer ideas to Cameron on laying the groundwork for economic growth He is understood to have proposed a series of measures to lift regulation, which a number of Conservative ministers are minded to support. But Featherstone, MP for the north London constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green, said: “Whatever is in this Beecroft report, I think, will be swiftly swept away. These are hideous suggestions … What I would say about them is that it would be absolutely extraordinary if we were to abandon our commitment to those flagship policies. “It is absolutely vital that we deliver on our rhetoric around family-friendly issues. I wouldn’t support that, Nick [Clegg] wouldn’t support that, and quite frankly David Cameron was campaigning last year on being the most family-friendly government. I would be very surprised if he supported that.” There are worrying signs that the government’s policies are hitting women disproportionately, while measures to encourage equality in business are simply being ignored. Last week the number of unemployed women hit 1.06

Posted by on October 15, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.