‘I’m 42 and I’ve never voted’, woman concerned about childcare says

The Conservative party manifesto pledges to give 30 hours of free childcare to parents with children aged nine months to five years from September 2025.

It also said it will cut the benefits bill by £12bn with better targeting of disability benefits and by expanding mental health services.

The Labour party said it will expand childcare with 3,000 new primary school-based nurseries and free breakfast clubs at every primary school in England.

It also said it would reform employment support, including by bringing Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service together, to help people get into work.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto promises to ensure all parents can access flexible and affordable childcare, scrap the child benefit cap and remove the two-child limit.

It also said it will double statutory maternity and shared parental pay, and introduce an extra month’s leave for fathers and partners paid at 90% of earnings.

The Green Party said it would increase universal credit and legacy benefits by £40 a week and abolish the two-child, child benefit cap, as well as moving towards a four-day working week.

Reform UK wants to allow parents to front-load child benefits for children aged one to four.

It said it will reform benefits support and training to get two million people back to work, with tax relief for businesses offering apprenticeships.