The General Election is just weeks away, and with all the noise of the campaign trail, it's easy to lose sight of what each party is actually promising. That's why we've been scouring the manifestos to understand what is being pledged for women. From combatting violence and misogyny to closing the Black and Asian maternal mortality gap, here's what the four main political parties are pledging, according to their official manifestos.
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Labour
‘We will no longer tolerate the violence against women and girls that stains our society,’ states the Labour party manifesto, promising to reform the justice system to prioritise victims, address the prisons crisis, and cut reoffending rates. The party has made combatting violence against women and girls a central part of their mission, aiming to halve such violence within a decade.
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Labour proposes specialist rape and sexual offences teams in every police force, and pledges to fast-track rape cases with specialist courts at every Crown Court in England and Wales to counter the low prosecution rates and delays in the justice system. They also aim to address stalking more seriously, strengthen Stalking Protection Orders and give 'women the right to know the identity of online stalkers'. In addition, they pledge to introduce a new criminal offence for spiking.
Education on misogyny, healthy relationships, and consent will be mandated in schools, and Labour will ensure police forces have adequate powers to tackle these issues. They pledge to improve rights and protections for women in cohabiting relationships, whistleblowers, and those facing sexual harassment at work.
On health, Labour promises to ensure rapid improvement for failing maternity care trusts, train more midwives, and work towards closing the Black and Asian maternal mortality gap. Online safety will also be a priority, with Labour promising to enhance the Online Safety Act to protect against misogynistic content.
The Conservatives
The Conservative Party manifesto emphasises its commitment to women’s health and safety, building on its 2022 Women’s Health Strategy. They plan to launch a comprehensive national strategy for maternity care, improve maternal safety, and expand women’s health hubs. They also promise to enhance services for birth injuries and mental health support for new mothers.
Addressing violence against women and girls, the Conservatives will introduce a 25-year prison term for domestic murders and ensure serious sexual offenders serve their entire sentences. They also plan to amend the NHS Constitution to guarantee single-sex accommodation and same-sex intimate care, which would deny non-binary people the right to have their gender identity legally recognised. In response to trans-inclusive terminology in the NHS, the Tories promise to ensure traditional terminology like 'mother' and 'breastfeeding' is preserved in health services.
Economic empowerment for women is also a focus, with the Conservatives proposing a £250 million Invest In Women Fund and support for female entrepreneurs through the British Business Bank.
The Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats pledge to support survivors of violence against women and girls with mandatory training for police and prosecutors on trauma impact, and by making misogyny a hate crime. They aim to give everyone the right to flexible working, and disabled people the right to work from home if feasible.
On health and welfare, they propose fixing the Statutory Sick Pay system to include low earners, most of whom are women, and ensuring fair treatment and compensation for women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the state pension age.
The Green Party
The Green Party’s commitments focus on standing up against violence towards women and girls. They also propose giving child benefits to all children in a family, emphasising the importance of financial support for families.
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