Maternity leave: Childcare at home focus of proposals

At its annual conference, the party backed a proposal calling for theintroduction of a maternity income guarantee for the first child. Itwould mean that families would receive 170 a week, the equivalentof the adult minimum wage, for the first six months after birth. Theparty envisages extending the time frame to 12 months as parental leaveentitlement is increased.

Party activists criticised the Government for focusing on gettingparents back to work and not providing them with enough support to lookafter their children at home if they wish.

The Liberal Democrats also backed the introduction of flexible workingpractices and the sharing of parental leave between parents. However,activists rejected a proposal to give parents a right to work part-timeduring the first two years of a child's life. Patrick Short, chair ofthe party's Stronger Families, Brighter Futures Working Group, said theproposal lacked flexibility and would alienate small businesses.