Freedom, Justice, Honesty  Liberal Democrats will:    Manifesto forWomen and £15fortheover80s. for eachsinglepensioner, £10fortheover75s Increase thebasicstatepensionby£5aweek tax altogether. incomes, oftenwomen,outofpayingincome Reform thetaxsystem,takingthoseonlow comprehensive Equality Act. Pay Acts withasingle, moreeffective and replacing theSexDiscriminationandEqual Strenghten anti-discriminationlegislationby Pay foralllongtermcarecosts. Liberal Democrat www.libdems.org.uk Freedom, Justice, Honesty same timeastheGeneralElectionmanifesto. Scottish andWelshLiberalDemocratsapplies.Afull costing documentwillbepublishedatthe This documentcontainsFederalLiberalDemocratpolicy, exceptinareaswherepolicyofthe Northants, NN188AL Printed byContractPrinting,1St JamesRoad,St JamesIndustrialEstate, Corby, both at4CowleyStreet, London,SW1P3NB. Promoted &publishedbyChrisRennardonbehalfoftheLiberalDemocrats, Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen www.libdems.org.uk Charles Kennedy, Leaderofthe LiberalDemocrats. through realequalityofopportunity. and developtheirownpotential.Ourgoalisbetterrepresentationofwomenachieved opportunity. Wewanttoensurethatallindividualshavetheopportunitydiscover policies addresstheproblemsofwomenwhohavenotbeengivenanequal injustices andinequalitiesremainnewproblemshavearisen.LiberalDemocrat Women havemadegreatstridesoverthepastthirtyyearsbutformanyold social justicearearealityforallwomen,whatevertheiraspirations. are notforgotten. All LiberalDemocratMPswillfighttoensurethatfreedomand Fairer representationatWestminsterwillensurethattheissuesmostaffectwomen that itleadstowiderrepresentation,notjustforwomen,butminoritygroupstoo. apart fromSwedenandDenmark.Theclearbenefitofproportionalrepresentationis higher numberofwomenmembersParliamentthananywhereelseinEurope, of womenbeingelectedtoWestminster. A fairvotingsysteminScotlandproduceda mechanisms thatenablemorewomentostandinelectionswillleadgreaternumbers need togetmorewomenelectedatanationallevel.Selectionproceduresand However theHouseofCommonsstillfailstoreflecttruemakeupsociety. We the firstLiberalDemocratMPtobeelectedsinceIbecameleaderofparty. was addressed.ItthereforegavemegreatpleasuretowelcomeSandraGidleyas myself toensuringthattheunder-representationofwomeninHouseCommons When IwaselectedleaderoftheLiberalDemocrats in August 1999Icommitted Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen www.libdems.org.uk Charles Kennedy A Messagefrom

Freedom, Justice, Honesty Freedom, Justice, Honesty when theyneedit.Wewould: Liberal Democratsarecommitmenttoprovidingthecarethatpatientsneed, run andproducingbetterresults.Wewould: health. Wewillinvestinpreventionandearlydetection,savingmoneythelong Health isafundamentalfreedom.Noonecanfulfiltheirpotentialwithoutgood Freedom toLive:Health Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen technologies ataffordableprices. established drugsandsecurethemoresophisticated medicinesand Agency tousethepurchasingpowerofNHS todrivedownthepriceof available insomeparts ofthecountry. We willcreateaPharmaceutical Tackle thepostcodelotterythatmeanssomemedicinesareonly Pay foralllong-termpersonalcarecosts. midwives overfiveyears. Provide trainingplacesforanextra2,500doctorsand7,500nurses Provide anextra3000hospitalbedsoverfiveyears. paying themanadditional£1000onaverageeveryyear. Reward low-paidnurses,midwivesandotherprofessionalsby Restore freeNHSdentalcheck-upsandeyetests. and diagnosticequipment. Double thegovernment’scommitmenttoinvestinlatestscreening www.libdems.org.uk Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen medical treatment.Wewilltherefore: We believethateveryoneshouldbetreatedwithdignitywhentheyarereceiving facilities forwomentoconsultfemalehealthprofessionals. Promote equaltreatmentofthesexeswithinhealthserviceandexpand End theuseofmixedsexwardsinhospitals. www.libdems.org.uk and gynaecologyhaverisenmaternity ending theuseofmixedsexwards.Thisis Sandra Gidley, LiberalDemocratHealth that womeninBritainhavearealchance “Under Labourwaitinglistsforobstetrics committed toincreasingthenumbersof the onlyrealsolutionsowecanensure resourced. LiberalDemocratsarefully services areunderstaffedand doctors, nursesandmidwivesto for realchange.” Spokesperson

Freedom, Justice, Honesty Freedom, Justice, Honesty men andwomenequalityintheworkplace.Wewould: suffer fromthisanomalyinthelaw. LiberalDemocrats arecommittedtogiving employees. As 80%ofparttimeemployeesarewomen,theydisproportionately discriminated againstbecausetheydonothavethesamerightsasfulltime still facediscriminationintheworkplace.Forexampleparttimeworkersare Despite legislationsuchastheSexDiscriminationandEqualPay Acts women Freedom toEarn:Employment Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen comprehensive Equality Act. Discrimination andEqualPay Acts withasingle,moreeffective and Strengthen anti-discriminationlegislationbyreplacingtheSex be shared. time, totheequivalentoffullpayforatotal18weeks,whichcanalso maternity rights,andintroduceanewparentalbenefitextended,over Allow parentalleavetobesharedbetweenparents,replacingexisting responsibilities tocontinueinpart-timework. Reform thebenefitssystemtomakeiteasierforthosewithcaring Commission. wage annuallyonthebasisofrecommendationsfromLowPay Protect workersonlowincomesbyreviewingthenationalminimum time employees. moment. Thiswouldgiveparttimeemployeesthesamerightsasfull- cleaners, cooksandretailworkers,manyofwhomareexcludedatthe Amend thePart-timeWorkersRegulationstoensurethatitincludes Aim toremovetaxationforthelowestpaid. We believethatpeoplestart women) outoftax altogether. would take1.4millionpeopleonlowincomes (1.1millionofwhomare so nobobypays anytax ontheirearningsupto£6,500. At present,this taxation onthelowpaid.Overtime,wewillcut10ptaxratetozero, paying taxattoolowanincomeandwilworktoreducetheburdenof www.libdems.org.uk “Women inparttimeworkoftensufferfromunequal Democrats wilgivepart-timersequalrightsand Matthew Taylor, Liberal DemocratShadow rights andpayingtaxonlowincomes.Liberal cut taxonthelowpaid.” Chancellor have tostudyparttime.Wewill: available formaintenance.Thiswouldhelp,example,womenwithchildrenwho at timesimposedbythestate. Tuition wouldbepaid forandstudentloanswouldbe each person’sentitlementtopost-sixteeneducationthroughouttheirlife,ratherthan Ultimately thisapproachtolife-longlearningwouldprovidetheflexibilityaccess In thelongtermourgoalistogiveeverycitizenanIndividualLearning Account. prosperity. We will: the freedomtocontributefullysociety. EducationisalsothekeytoBritain’s future freedom tochooseafulfillingjob,theexploitone’stalentsfull,and High qualityeducationisthekeytopersonalfreedom.Educationprovides Freedom toLearn:Education Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen thresholdatwhichstudentloansarerepaid. accesstobenefitsforallduringthesummerholidays,andraisesalary Reformstudentmaintenance.Wewouldrestoregrantsforpoorstudentsand Increase fundingforbooksandequipmentinschools. year-olds. Recruit 5000extrasecondaryschoolteacherstoreduceclasssizesfor11-16 Cut classsizesto25onaveragefor5-11 year-olds. to Level3(equivalent2 A-Levels atgrades A toE). equivalent of5GCSEsatgrades A toC).Wewillfundthoseaged1624up funding toallowanyadultthechanceacquireaLevel2qualification(the Give everyadultanentitlementtopubliclyfundedtuition.Wewillprovidethe and havesetabolitionintrainWales. Democrats havealreadyachievedthisinScotlandbymakingitapriorityissue Abolish universitytuitionfeesthroughouttheUnitedKingdom.Liberal backgrounds, removesomeoftheburden studentdebt, academics andtackletherecruitmentretention crisis carefully costedcommitmentswillallowusto restorethe principle ofhighereducationfreeatthepoint ofaccess, “Liberal Democratsarecommittedtoahigh quality free abolish thedisgracefulpaygapthatexistsfor female university provisionopentoallwhocanbeneifit. Our ,LiberalDemocrat HigherEducation www.libdems.org.uk open upouruniversitiestostudentsfrompoorer affecting lecturersand researchers.” Spokesperson

Freedom, Justice, Honesty Freedom, Justice, Honesty committed totargetingresourcesatthepoorest pensioners,wewould: men bynearly2to1formeans-testedbenefits. LiberalDemocratsare women pensionershaveincomesofunder£100 perweekandtheyoutnumber Women makeupthemajorityofpoorestpensioners, asnearlytwofifthsof dependency onthewelfarestate.Wewould: In thelongtermweaimtohelppeopleliftthemselvesoutofpovertyand everyone deservesadecentstandardofliving.Wewould: people shouldbestigmatisedforrelyingonthewelfarestate.Webelieve lone parentshavenochoicebuttodependonthestate.Wedonotbelieve Liberal Democratsrecognisethatmanylowpaidworkerswithfamiliesand life. and thosewithlowincomestoensurethatallinBritainhaveabetterqualityof the opportunitiesenjoyedbyothers.Moreneedstobedoneforpensioners Poverty restrictsfreedombecausepeoplewithoutadecentincomedonothave Freedom fromPoverty Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen existing sanctionshavebeenevaluated. suffer most.Wewillnotimposefurtherpenalties untiltheeffectsof in manycases,thechildrenofthosepenalised aretheoneswho These haveplacedharshburdensonpoorpeopleand Deal. Abolish thebenefitsanctionsthatwerebroughtinunderNew simplistic formula. and willsupplanttheroughjusticeofcurrentcrude courts. Theirmaintenanceassessmentswillbestronglyenforced hardship tosomanypeople,andreplaceitwithasystemoffamily Abolish theChildSupport Agency, whichhascausedunjustifiable themselves in. than ayear. Suchchildren suffer fromthepovertytheirparents find families withchildrenwhohavebeenonincomesupportformore Alleviate childpovertybypayinganadditional£200peryeartoall Liberal Democrat Manifesto for Women

Increase the basic state pension by £5 a week for each single pensioner, £10 for the over 75 and £15 for the over 80s.

Introduce a flexible age of retirement for both women and men. The value of pensions would reflect the age at which individuals choose to retire.

Liberal Democrats in the long term aim to ensure that no pensioner lives in poverty. We would:

Extend the entitlement to the basic state pension to all citizens. This would eventually help around 3.4 million people, mainly women, carers and long- term disabled people. This would also help many women who have incomplete contributory records as a result of their caring responsibilities by abolishing the contributory principle.

Establish a level of minimum income after carrying out research to establish the appropriate amount.

Introduce a new Owned Second Pension Account (OSPA). We believe that the best way to prevent poverty among future generations is to ensure that all people have a second pension of their own to top up the state pension. Over time we would ensure that a growing proportion of the workforce were members of either a company pension scheme or had an OSPA, with the government making contributions for those who are too poor to do so.

“It is outrageous that many thousands of married women are still retiring on little or no state pension because of pension rules which belong in the middle of the last century. Many married women who paid the reduced rate had little or no idea that this would wipe out their pension and are genuinely shocked when they received pensions forecasts promising them only a few pence per week. The Government must launch Freedom, Justice, Honesty an inquiry into these women’s complaints and take action to right this injustice.” , Liberal Democrat Shadow Social Security Secretary Freedom, Justice, Honesty of crime,istohaveeffectivepoliciestackleitscauses.Wewould: Our approachisrootedinthebeliefthatbestwaytobeatcrime,andfear Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen Freedom fromCrime them fromallsectionsofsociety. Wewould: police forces,tomakethemoreeffectiveandincreasepublicconfidencein Democrats willreformthelawandbuildongoodpracticeestablishedbymany support forwomenwhohavesufferedfromrapeanddomesticviolence.TheLiberal and adequateprotection.Thelawthepolicehaveamixedrecordinproviding particularly themostvulnerableinsociety. The state shouldoffer allits citizensequal We allwantfreedomfromcrime.Fearofcrimeblightsthelivesmanypeople, currently associatedwithdrugs. Establish aStanding RoyalCommissiontotackle therangeofproblems maximum four-weekwaitingtimeafteranabuserisreferredfortreatment. Expand facilitiestohelpdrugandalcoholabusers.Wewillaimfora plans sothereareatleast6000extrapoliceofficers thanlastyear. Recruit 2000fulltimeandpart timepoliceofficers ontopofLabour’s retaining retiredofficersinaback-uprole. Reinforce frontlinepolicewithanewCommunitySafetyForceandby representative ofthepopulation’s diversity. Create aJudicial Appointments CommissiontoachieveaJudiciarythatis Improve theprovisionofrefugeplacesforvictimsdomesticviolence. www.libdems.org.uk All overthecountrypoliceforcesareunderstrength and the policeandspecialconstablescanbewhere theyare need moreresourcestocarryouttheirduties effectively. extra policeofficersonthebeat.Weneedto ensure that streets andnotintheofficefillingendlesspaperwork. That iswhywehavepledgedourselvestoputting 6,000 most effectiveandgiveasenseofsecurity-out onthe ,Liberal DemocratHome Affairs Spokesperson Liberal Democrat Manifesto for Women Freedom to be Yourself: Civil Liberties

Civil liberties are the basis of a genuinely free society. They are essential to a liberal society in which people are enabled to fulfil their potential and make informed choices about their lives. We would:

Pass an Equality Act to outlaw all forms of discrimination. This will fight unfair discrimination on whatever grounds, including race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or gender identity.

Establish a scheme for the civil registration of partnerships. This will give two unrelated adults who wish to register a settled personal relationship, legal rights, such as next of kin arrangements that are at present only available to married couples.

Free immigration laws from discrimination. We will ensure that immigration policy is non-discriminatory in its application. We will reform current immigration law so that families are not divided.

“It is now nearly 25 years since the legislation on race and sex discrimination was enacted. These acts have virtually remained the same. It is time to set out a new framework for equality legislation which will take into account the changing social situation.” Lord Navnit Dholakia, President of the Liberal Democrats Freedom, Justice, Honesty

www.libdems.org.uk Freedom, Justice, Honesty Liberal DemocratManifestoforWomen www.libdems.org.uk