Election 2015: Labour accuse Tories of 'failing' 50% of population in 'women manifesto'

Labour will accuse the Tories of "failing" women and families across the UK when the party launches their manifesto designed to win over the female vote.

Gloria de Piero, speaking ahead of the unveiling, claimed the government have let women down and claim 50% of the population has been "hit by 85% of the pain".

"Progress for women has never come from standing back, so Labour will support families to balance work and family life with 25 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds of working parents, guaranteed access to 8am-6pm wraparound childcare, more support for working grandparents and protecting Sure Start," the shadow minister for equalities said.

"We'll tackle low pay, which affects one in four women, by boosting the minimum wage to over £8, strengthen discrimination law, support healthy relationships with compulsory age-appropriate sex and relationship education and appoint a new commissioner to tackle domestic and sexual abuse."

Labour's "Better Plan for Women's Equality" will outline the government's record on women and argue that David Cameron has a "women problem".

The document is also expected to set out Labour's plans to increase "progress for women", including proposals to tackle workplace discrimination, action on violence against women and additional free childcare for parents.

The launch will come as Ukip and the Liberal Democrats plan to unveil their general election manifestos to the press and public.

Labour, the Greens and the Tories have already released their policy documents with just weeks to go before polling day on 7 May.

The latest opinion poll from YouGov, which was conducted between 12 and 13 April, put Labour one point ahead of the Tories (34% vs 33%), with Ukip on 13% and the Liberal Democrats on 8%.