Vote for nannies

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Who should get the nannies' vote in the general election? A quick glance at the parties' promises sees the Conservatives offering families a 50 a week tax credit per under-five child regardless of the type of childcare they use - favouring the 'informal', unqualified carer, or granny babysitter - so, less work for nannies there. The Liberal Democrats would implement Labour's plans on more free nursery hours and wraparound care - so, less work for nannies there. And it's taken Labour eight years, until this month, to give parents any financial help with employing a nanny, via the childcare approval scheme (see page 4), and even that is voluntary and nothing like the nanny register nannies and campaigners have been demanding for years - so, who's holding their breath for more?