Mums make cost of living top priority

MOTHERS are bored with politicians talking about Europe and want them to focus instead on easing the pressure on family finances.

A survey found the cost of living was their top priority, followed by the NHS and immigration.

Four in ten wanted politicians to talk less about Europe.

The news is a blow for David Cameron, who has pinned his re-election hopes on the promise of an in- out referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

Other issues that mothers find a turn-off include transport, with more than half saying they want to hear less about it. This comes after the Prime Minister and his deputy, Nick Clegg, dashed around the country earlier this month to be pictured near roads earmarked for upgrades, with both posing at Stonehenge.

Surprisingly, 24 per cent of mothers want to hear less about childcare. This may reflect the way it has become pigeon-holed as a ‘female issue’, despite the fact that women have much broader concerns.

The results come from a survey of more than 3,000 mothers commissioned by supermarket Asda.

It found 75 per cent want politicians to f ocus more on f amily finances, while seven in ten said the NHS was their top concern.

Despite the lack of interest in the issue of Europe, 53 per cent were concerned about immigration,.

The survey also reveals a disenchantment among mothers with politicians in general. Only a third would be willing to open the door to a candidate on the campaign trail.

Four in ten said it would make little or no difference to them which party wins May’s general election.

More than half said they do not trust whoever is elected to implement the policies they campaign on.

An Asda spokesman said: ‘Almost half of Asda mums are so dispirited that they don’t think that the election – whoever wins – will make any difference to their family’s lives.

‘And even more concerning, most of them don’t even trust politicians to honour their campaign.’

She added: ‘Mums still feel ignored and they are not optimistic that this will change.’

‘They feel ignored by politicians’