Don't Underestimate Women Voters Says Kramer

11.00.45am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 27th Sep 2004

Liberal Democrat policies and the party have a high appeal for women voters as shown in recent polling by MORI for the Fawcett Society. But the party must address women's aspirations and not take anything for granted.

This was the message from Susan Kramer, PPC for Richmond Park, speaking at the Winning Women's Votes fringe meeting organised by the Centre for Reform/Fawcett Society Fringe Meeting.

"We have the right policies on education, health and pensions and can really engage women voters of all ages with this agenda.

"Our task in addition to this is to listen, respond and develop a coherent policy on child care so that we can make sure we address all their aspirations.

"I am going to make this a key priority at national level and I will be galvanising the energies of other Liberal Democrat women to ensure we get this at the forefront of our proposals.

"Many women in the 45 - to 54 year old age bracket have had careers, raised children and are often supporting their elderly parents.

"But under our current pension system, many of these women will also receive a poor state pension because caring responsibilities have taken them out of the labour market. Our proposal to introduce a Citizens' pension based on a citizenship requirement rather than an often patchy national insurance record will particularly aid this group.

"Our pledge on primary class sizes - to reduce them to twenty pupils and ultimately to fifteen pupils - can attract the support of the next generation of mothers who want the very best start in life for their children.

"The Tories are counting on women to drift away from the Liberal Democrats and back them. But the women I speak to no longer believe in the Tory Party. They are increasingly convinced that the Liberal Democrats can match their high standards and their high expectations.

"As a party, we still have work to do to in reaching out to young and less well-off women who tend to be turned off politics or who vote for Labour but are dissatisfied. We need to demonstrate that Liberal Democrat policies are relevant to their lives."