i News Editor's letter: Committed working mums
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Lucy Powell, Labour’s new shadow childcare minister, was last weekend branded one of Britain’s laziest politicians by The Sun, which failed to take account of her recent maternity leave in analysing how often MPs voted. As someone who has a baby the same age as Ms Powell’s, and is still knee-deep in nappies while she’s back at work, I’d say she deserves not criticism but a medal. Particularly given that one of her first outings in her new job was to deliver an insightful speech calling for better, affordable childcare but also insisting that attitudes to working mums have to change before the dilemma of how to juggle career and family can be resolved. “Far from being scatty and clock-watching…we are highly productive at work because we have to be,” she said.
Until we stop assuming that working mums are not fully committed to either part of that title, and equating professional dedication with hours spent in an office, we’ll get nowhere. Politicians can’t do that for us, but they can help, and it seems like all sides are finally realising how important childcare is to millions.
The Coalition has made some useful (if insufficient) steps on free hours and tax relief, and is now calling for school nurseries to open later. Labour has upped the ante, promising 25 free hours and considering major commitments like universal free care for pre-schoolers and a children’s centre in every neighbourhood (a report out yesterday showed that 515 of these invaluable centres have closed since 2010). Childcare looks set to be a central issue of the 2015 election.
I will be a full-time working journo-mum by then, and look forward to covering the battle.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments