Sollitt welcomes Launch of Manifesto for Families

11.32.45pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Apr 2005

Liberal Democrat Manifesto for Families launched today

Steve Sollitt, Parliamentary Candidate for Southampton Test, has welcomed the launch of the Liberal Democrat manifesto for families today.

"Families are the heart of Southampton and these proposals would be a real support for every parent who wants to see the best for their child" said Steve. "We want to concentrate help when the first child in born, as this is when young families incur the highest costs, as I can remember. For later children, bottles, sterilisation equipment, bouncing chairs and so on can be re-used".

The top Lib Dem priorities for families are a maternity income guarantee that will give women £170 a week for six months after the birth of their first child, reduced class sizes for 5-7 year olds, more Children's Centres and the extension of pre and after school care to all schools.

"We will make housing more affordable for young families by ending stamp duty for homes of less than £150,000, boosting rented and shared ownership schemes, and abolishing council tax in favour of local income tax related to ability to pay. This is particularly important in Southampton which faces a sharp hike in council tax because of revaluation".