We won’t ignore ‘sandwich generation’ women

I always looked forward to Mother’s Day – a proper Sunday lunch with Mum and often my grandmothers. I’m looking forward to spending today with my family. It offers a chance to reflect on the huge contributions that mums make to our national life and especially, mums among a group that has been too often neglected in our politics, women in their 40s and 50s.

Women of this age are looking after their growing kids, caring for elderly parents and holding down a job – all the while managing their own health and going through the menopause.

Politicians have overlooked them for too long, because this group don’t ask for much. I turned 45 this week. This is the age at which financial and caring responsibilities peak for women.

Women are working harder but taking home less. Women in their 50s are the fastest growing group in the workforce, but their real wages are down by £1,000 a year since the Conservatives came to power.

It’s no wonder that 185,000 more women aged 50 to 64 have been “economically inactive” since before the pandemic. That’s a phrase I don’t like given that they are often anything but inactive. They are the “sandwich generation”, often caring for children and parents. While many chose to leave work, many will have found the juggle of work, family and health pressures all too much.

We need to make it easier for these women to return to, or stay in, work. We’ve not seen that from the Tories. Labour has a comprehensive policy for these women. Angela Rayner [deputy leader] and I recently announced plans to require large employers to put menopause action plans in place.

This would be great for women and for the businesses, as they can hold onto some of their most experienced and talented workers.

We’ve committed to flexible working rights, and a proper childcare system with breakfast clubs in every primary school. Childcare pressures don’t finish when the kids start school. We need wraparound childcare like Bridget Phillipson [shadow education secretary] has been leading on. And we need a proper plan to clear the NHS backlog so that women can get the medical treatment they need.