UK Women's Budget Group

It is great to see the first female chancellor use her position to address gender inequalities in the economy. Self-employed women earn an average 41% less than self-employed men while the number of self-employed women is growing at a faster rate. Which is why we are also calling for positive measures in the Government's forthcoming employment bill to be available to all workers. https://lnkd.in/e47EpqBR #GenderInEquality #SelfEmployed #EmploymentBill

Mission 2028 - Delivering a diverse and gender equal parliament By Professor Helen Pankhurst, Centenary Action Convenor Now the dust has settled on the July General Election and the new cohort of MPs are back in Parliament for the new term, we can reflect and celebrate what is the most diverse Parliament ever. With 40% of MPs now being women, a historic milestone has been reached. While this progress is commendable, it’s crucial to recognise that it’s still insufficient and the pace of change remains slow. Women constitute 51% of the population, yet their representation in Parliament remains unequal. We need to ensure that progress towards equal representation is maintained and equality becomes fully embedded so we cannot go backwards. This issue is not just about fairness. Research shows that more inclusive legislatures offer significant benefits: they broaden the scope of debate to include policies impacting women and families, and reduce public disengagement. Women in UK politics have championed legislation that significantly impacts women’s lives. When power is more equally shared, democracy and society as a whole are strengthened. All major political parties have pledged to achieve a gender-equal parliament by 2028, the centenary of the equal franchise. To meet this goal, concrete actions are necessary. Key actions we are calling for include: - Enact Section 106 of the Equality Act: Mandate parties to publish candidate diversity data. - Modernise Parliamentary HR systems: Reform HR processes to make them more efficient and relevant to the 21st century.  - Establish a Modernisation Committee which operates with a gendered perspective to ensure Parliament is a workplace that works for women. - Implement the The Jo Cox Foundation Civility Commission recommendations: Address violence, abuse and intimidation. - Establish a funding scheme for Disabled candidates: Ensure disabled candidates can contest elections on a level playing field. - Political parties to develop action plans for achieving equal representation: By reviewing candidate data and selection processes. - Policy approach informed by diverse women’s experiences: Systematically incorporate women’s experiences into policy-making. As my Grandmother Sylvia said: “Great is the work that remains to be accomplished.”  While the increase in female representation is a step forward, achieving true gender parity requires ongoing effort, structural changes, and a steadfast commitment to equality. By taking these actions, we can ensure that women have their rightful place in the political landscape, enhancing democracy and benefiting society at large. Please join us on #Mission2028, sign up to the Centenary Action newsletter, become a member, follow and amplify on social media. https://lnkd.in/dMdqRvVj Twitter/ X: @CentenaryAction Instagram: centenaryactiongroup Fawcett Society The WI (National Federation of Women's Institutes) Elect Her CIC 50:50 Parliament Mumsnet

Rachel Reeves should announce a significant uplift in public spending in next month’s budget, or risk women bearing the brunt of continuing austerity. Read our latest analysis in the Guardian ▶ https://lnkd.in/edKu7YAz #PublicSpendingCuts #AusterityImpact #GenderEquality

Our latest report reveals that the poorest women in England are set to experience a devastating 21% decline in living standards—equivalent to a loss of £5,404 per year—due to the combined impact of tax and benefit changes alongside public spending cuts since 2010. Key findings from our report, “Where Do We Go From Here?” include: ➡️ Women are disproportionately affected: On average, women will lose £3,162 per year (9.4% of their living standards), compared to £2,395 per year for men (5.8%). ➡️ Families with children, particularly single mothers, face significant financial strain. Single mothers are set to lose 18% of their living standards, equivalent to £10,689 per year. ➡️ Women from Black and Asian backgrounds are facing severe losses, with Black women seeing cuts of £5,399 annually and Asian women £4,259. ➡️ Disabled women stand to lose 11% of their living standards, while Disabled men face an 8% reduction. We urge the government to take immediate action. Investment in social infrastructure and restoring the social security system to adequate levels is essential to protect vulnerable women from deeper financial hardship. 📑 Download the full report to explore the comprehensive findings and understand the gendered impact of 14 years of austerity. https://lnkd.in/eASpi_dz #AusterityImpact #PublicSpendingCuts #GenderInequality

As part of Labour’s plan to transition Britain into a clean energy superpower, it's crucial to embed gender equality into the heart of this transformation. Achieving net-zero and creating sustainable jobs requires a shift towards a Green and Caring Economy—investing in social infrastructure sectors such as health and care, which not only reduce emissions but also promote gender equity. At the Women's Budget Group, we advocate for targeted investment in well-paid green jobs, especially in the care sector, which has the potential to generate more jobs and significantly lower emissions compared to traditional industries like construction. Additionally, policies must prioritise energy-efficient housing through retrofitting and ensure that low-income households and disabled individuals receive the support they need during this transition. 🏠 A just transition is essential—one that fosters inclusive economic growth, addresses social inequalities, and secures Britain’s future as a clean energy leader. 🌿 To learn more 👉https://lnkd.in/eMfwqb6G #GreenJobs #CleanEnergy #GreenEconomy #Sustainability

Workers earn higher wages in cities than in rural areas: This is the so-called urban wage premium. But what's known about the relative benefits of cities for women compared to men and do they provide clues for policies to reduce the gender pay gap? Sabine D'Costa from Westminster University explores this question in her new guest blog for WBG https://lnkd.in/e7xY-5d7

New: World-First Study on Childcare Access 📢 Today, the Mitchell Institute released a ground-breaking study mapping childcare access for over 10 million children across nine countries. The findings reveal that 30% of people in England live in a 'childcare desert,' making it one of the worst countries in Europe for access to early education and care. We’re proud that the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, which we host and are members of, has contributed to this work. This study highlights just how far behind England is compared to some of our European peers when it comes to providing equitable access to early education and childcare – the essential social infrastructure underpinning our economy. As the new government takes office, it’s crucial that creating more childcare places, especially in disadvantaged areas, becomes a priority. The scale of the challenge is clear, but so is the path forward. #ChildcareAccess #EarlyEducation #EducationPolicy #MitchellInstitute

Event alert! We’re organising a fringe event at the Labour party conference: The Future of Work in a Green and Caring Economy Date & time: 23 September, 15:45-17:00 Venue: Mersey Suite, Pullman Hotel, Liverpool, L3 4FP Event format: Panel discussion Chaired by Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director, WBG Speakers: • Anneliese Dodds MP, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Minister for Women and Equalities (invited) • Dr Sara Reis, Deputy Director and Head of Research and Policy, Women’s Budget Group • Shabna Begum, CEO, Runnymede Trust • Nicola Smith, Head of Rights, International, Social Affairs and Economics, TUC • Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation • Jemima Olchawski, CEO, Fawcett Society Join us for the launch of our new report, The Feminist Future of Work, to explore the potential gendered impact of the Employment Rights Bill. Together we will discuss how the measures enclosed in Labour’s New Deal for Working People could impact women and set out our recommendations for where measures need to go further to improve women’s working lives. We’re also attending both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative conferences so please get in touch if you’d like to meet us. More info 👉 https://lnkd.in/ev2JCGtv #LabourPartyConference #GenderEquality #FeministFutureOfWork

Report alert! Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) has produced a new #LockedIn resource - exposing how abusers are using joint mortgages to economically abuse 750,000 UK women. 

At the heart of women’s economic inequality lies the burden of unpaid work. On average, women perform 50% more unpaid work than men and make up 59% of unpaid carers. This extra time spent on unpaid activities limits women’s ability to engage in paid employment and narrows their choices in the labour market. 💼 To make matters worse, women are disproportionally affected by cuts to social security, further deepening the inequality. It’s time to recognise and address the unpaid work that keeps our society running – because women deserve better. Let’s push for policies that value all forms of work and create a fairer, more inclusive economy. 💪✨ #GenderEquality #UnpaidWork #SocialJustice