New polling offers boost for Labour’s priorities on families

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

New polling by the national childcare charity Daycare Trust reveals that over two thirds (67%) of mothers would be less likely to vote for a party that cut child tax credits or childcare places.

In the poll, of 2,500 mothers, 54% of respondents said that any party that failed to protect Sure Start Children’s Centres would suffer at the polls, with 57% saying the same of Child Trust Fund initiatives.

That’s promising news for Labour, who introduced the Child Trust Fund and have promised to raise tax credits for families with young children, protect investment in universal Sure Start centres and extend free nursery places to 15 hours a week for all 3 and 4 year olds.

Commenting on the Trust’s polling, Ed Balls said:

“This poll is worrying news for David Cameron and George Osborne, who have pledged to take away from ordinary families the tax credits, child trust funds and children’s centres they rely on. As the election choice becomes clearer, mums and dads who do their best to juggle work and family life will know they would be hit the hardest if the Tories win.”

The ippr and Fabian Society are hosting a joint event tonight on Saving the Child Trust Fund, which the Conservatives have called a “luxury” which they wish to cut and limit to the very poorest people.

The Tories have also threatened to limit Sure Start to just the poorest families, and reduce its funding by £200 million.