Liberal Democrats

This is a space to publicise the Liberal Democrat party responses to the What About Women campaign questions. 

Liberal Democrats on Economy
Liberal Democrats will raise the threshold at which people start to pay tax...

Liberal Democrats on Work and Family
It's a scandal that women are paid 16.4% less than men for full-time work...

Liberal Democrats on Crime and Justice
Domestic violence has risen substantially in the last few years...

Liberal Democrats on Democracy
We need to rebuild our political system from top-to-toe, starting with the voting system used at every level of election...

Liberal Democrats on Attitudes and Culture
There is clearly disparity in the coverage – women are often there as victims, but so not so often there as high–fliers.

Liberal Democrats on Equality and Human Rights
The Equality Bill – hopefully soon to be Act – going through Parliament at the moment is a big step forward...

Comments Received:

"On the whole this is probably the best of the contributions received to date, with some real commitment to change.
It's a shame, however, that these comments ignore everything the European Commission has done and continues to do to mainstream gender equality in the EU legislative process.
The Liberal Democrats say nothing about whether they will lift the British opt-out on incorporating the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights into UK law. Now, that really would be progress."
Submitted by: Michael Hocken

"It is encouraging to see that the important work that women's organisations do locally is recognised but giving more power to local councils to fund these services may actually mean services are lost - what we need is centralised ring-fenced funding for women-only and specialist women's organisations."
Submitted by: Charlotte Gage

"Lib Dems are correct 'you can have reams of policy' but without social responsibility this means nothing.  The issue of how women and girls continue to be portrayed as males' sexual service stations is a social issue and hence political parties must address this issue rather than claiming schools must be held accountable.
Good to see Lib Dems acknowledge power continues to be held by white powerful middle-class males - so how are Lib Dems going to redress the balance of power?
The fact girls and boys learn their supposedly 'natural roles' does not mean society can 'wash its hands of how narrow gender roles are enforced.  No, Lib Dems mothers alone are not responsible for early childhood care - the media and popular culture plays a huge role in teaching girl and boy children their supposedly 'natural gender roles.' 
Scapegoating mothers is an easy option politicians commonly employ - but women are not easily fooled.  Yet more empty rhetoric and clearly Lib Dems are not interested in women's rights but only interested in male-centered issues and retaining the status quo."
Submitted by: Jennifer Drew