Dawn Primarolo: "Women's vote is crucial at this election"

Welsh Labour has pushed women's issues to the front of its campaign in a bid to encourage female voters to the polls on May 5.

Paymaster general Dawn Primarolo was in Wales on Tuesday to highlight Labour's women-friendly policies.

She said: "Women's votes will be crucial at this election, and Labour will be fighting for every vote.

"We've got a strong record of delivering on the issues that make a real difference to women's lives.

"The tough decisions we have taken to deliver a stable economy mean we can invest in the public services – schools, hospitals and childcare – on which hard working women and their families depend."

Economy

Primarolo argued that Labour had helped make work pay for women - through the national minimum wage and tax credits. 

And she said women have been given more choice about how to balance their work and family lives, through increased maternity pay, new rights to flexible working and more affordable childcare.

If Labour is re-elected, it promises to maintain a strong and stable economy and continue to invest in improving schools and hospitals.

The party will also increase maternity pay to nine months, expand the amount of childcare that's available, and extend rights to flexible working.

Primarolo claimed the Conservative party would put all these promises "at risk". 

She said: "When they were in government, interest rates were over 15 per cent for a whole year. [And] 1.5 million households suffered from negative equity and 250,000 families had their homes repossessed.  

"The Tories opposed the introduction of the minimum wage and every measure we have taken to give parents more choice about balancing their work and family lives.

"And their plans to cut £35bn from public spending will mean direct cuts in front line services on which women and their families depend."

"So Labour's message to women in the election campaign is clear," Primarolo added.

"If you value the extra money going in your local schools and hospitals, if you value the extra childcare and rights to flexible working - then vote for it on May 5."