Lack of Concrete Plan for Childcare Reflects Badly on Labour, Says Southport Lib Dems

Local families will feel let down by Labour’s lack of commitment to free childcare – Southport Lib Dems

The Labour party have announced that they won’t commit to the current plan to extend free childcare hours to working parents with children over the age of nine months. At the moment working parents with children aged three and four are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare.

Erin Harvey, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson  commented:  “Labour’s announcement puts parents who were relying on these extra hours in limbo and many families will feel let down that free childcare isn’t a key commitment from the party. If Labour are serious about being in power they should have a fully costed and thought out plan to reduce the massive financial burden of childcare costs. Getting this right will also boost our economy and free more people to go to work as at the moment the crippling costs can mean that it doesn’t make financial sense to work.

“Here in Southport we have had a few nurseries close recently. It’s clear that the funding the Conservative government give to childcare settings isn’t sustainable. Lib Dems believe that to get a fairer deal for families there needs to be a combination of help with costs and more flexibility when it comes to parental leave and support.  

“We have an unwavering commitment to delivering free childcare and would review payment rates for childcare providers to ensure they genuinely reflect the costs power of delivering high-quality childcare and early years education. I’m the mum of a young child and I know how important it is for us as a society that we get this right.