TORY PLANS

Mums will be paid £150 a week to stay at home and look after their kids under Tory plans. Michael Howard will promise them a “housewife’s wage” for up to a year after each baby is born if he wins power. The Tory leader believes the cash will give couples the freedom to decide for themselves how to run their lives and fathers will get the option of sharing the year’s paid leave.

Mr Howard’s pledge put Labour on the back foot. Tony Blair was so alarmed that he rushed forward an announcement to offer cheap childcare places for all five to 11-year-olds by 2008. He will also guarantee up to ten hours of care for young children every working day, at £3.50 an hour with help for the low paid. Schools, clubs and private nurseries will open their doors to mind kids under his scheme.

The worried PM set aside time to make a speech on childcare today before jetting to Washington. Both parties are eager to appeal to young women who could decide the outcome of the next election in May 2005. The Tory plan would allow new mums to be paid the minimum wage of £4.85 an hour for the equivalent of a six-hour day for 12 months. The £150-a-week payment is almost 50% higher than current maternity benefit of £102.80, which is limited to six months.

A senior aide said, “Mothers hate being told by the Government that it is good for them to rush back to work soon after their baby is born. Our new idea will give them the money to decide for themselves.” In other Tory reforms, the childcare tax credit, worth up to £140 a week, will be paid directly to parents to spend on childminders, who could be friends or grandparents. Fast-track training would be provided for grandparents who want to set themselves up as childminders for non-family kids. (Source: The Sun)