‘Anti-women’ - Cuts target

Published: 21 January, 2011
by JAMES LACHNO

Campaigners  have warned shoppers of government cuts that would have a disproportionate effect on women

ABOUT 35 members of Women Against the Cuts, launched in November, handed out leaflets in Chapel Market at Angel on Saturday.

The group says the government’s comprehensive spending review is set to raise around £5.7billion from cuts affecting women, in contrast to just £2.7billion from men, according to figures released by the House of Commons Library.

Campaign organiser Eve Featherstone said: “More women work in the public sector than men. Where I work in Haringey over 1,000 jobs are going. If 75 per cent of your workforce is female there is going to be a disproportionate number of women losing their jobs.”

Fellow campaigner Lesley Mercer, a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: “Many of the people in my union are really going to be hurt by the cuts to pensions, child benefit and the forthcoming hike in tuition fees.”

• Pictured are campaigners, including Eve Featherstone, centre, and Lesley Mercer, right.