Fifty-seven per cent of the 5,900 mothers who took part in an online survey on the top ten issues that mothers would vote on, conducted by Netmums, said that policies to help parents who wished to stay at home while their children were small would be a key issue for them.
One mother wrote, 'There has been a big focus on pushing parents back into work with a lack of foresight into what the long-term affects may be on the children. Parents who do not live off benefits but who chose to stay at home and look after their children full time should be celebrated.'
The second biggest concern for participants was the availability of flexible working opportunities, with half of the mothers surveyed calling for more 'family friendly' jobs.
One parent wrote, 'I work as a pharmacist and feel that the Government has done very little to help me in a professional capacity. The flexible working hours, childcare, etc do not apply to everyone. I find it extremely difficult to phone my work and tell them that I am unable to come in due to children being sick, as it is looked upon very badly.'
Thirty-nine per cent of those surveyed said that they wanted better quality and more affordable childcare options to help working mothers.
Comments included, 'I think it is hard for working families as childcare is so expensive. I would vote for any party that subsidised childcare for working parents.'
Other key areas of concern named by those surveyed included clamping down on benefit fraud, better maternity services, more resources for social services and child protection, better access to doctors/specialists and longer/better paid maternity leave.
Further information:
www.netmums.com/campaigns
