Thursday 5 May 2011

Yvette Cooper: today's vote won't split the coalition

Whatever the results as people head to the polls today, the Tories and Lib Dems will serve a full term, says Yvette Cooper.
"If Nick Clegg was prepared to do such a complete reversal on student tuition fees, it's hard to see what would be too big for him to swallow as the price of staying in power. I find it hard to see what issue would be big enough to make the Lib Dems walk away. Also, they don't want to go back to their electorate any time soon."

Talking to Mary Riddell in the Gender Special Issue of the Fabian Review, the shadow women's minister goes on to explain how bad this government is for women. Cooper says that women's life chances have been flung into reverse:
"I can't think of any example in the last century that involved a greater turning back of the clock. After the First World War the nursery provision that allowed women to work closed down. Other than that, it is hard to think of any comparable period in history. I think the coalition think about it as just money in people's pockets. For women, it's about really fundamental choices on how they live their lives."

For women, the Welfare Reform Bill, unaffordable childcare, the threat to maternity leave and disappearing child tax credits will have "a massive impact on your whole identity, your life and your decisions".

You can read the whole interview here.

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