Women and the Economy

Debate between Dawn Butler and Kate Green

Wednesday 9th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Kate Green]

I will give way to the hon. and learned Lady later, if she will forgive me. I want to make a little progress.

We knew that the Chancellor had been forced to listen, and that he would have to back down on the tax credit cuts he announced in the summer, which would have hit women disproportionately hard. We have to wonder why on earth he thought they were a good idea in the first place, knowing that 70% of the savings to the Treasury from that policy would have come from women.

[Dawn Butler (Brent Central) (Lab)]

Women have borne the brunt of more than 82% of all the Chancellor’s cuts. Does my hon. Friend agree that he is every woman’s worst nightmare?

[Kate Green]

I shall not presume to speak for every woman’s attitude towards the Chancellor, but his policies have certainly been damaging for a substantial number of women.