Single parents could decide marginals

The fate of 96 of the 100 most marginal seats in England and Wales could be decided by single parents, new analysis from Gingerbread has found].

Single parents have headed one in four families in the UK for the last decade [2] but this is the first time that their potential voting power has been matched against majorities in marginal constituency seats. In 96 of the 100 most marginal constituencies in England and Wales, the number of single parents outweighs the majority with which the seat was last won.

The data is being released as part of Gingerbread’s General Election 2015: Single Parents Decide campaign which aims to raise the voices of the UK’s two million single parents.

Polling commissioned by the charity has found that 6 in 10 parents think politicians have little to no understanding of how to help them access affordable childcare, balance work and family life, or bring in a decent income [3]. These are all issues single parents identified as priorities ahead of the election [4].

Gingerbread Chief Executive Fiona Weir said: “Politicians of all parties cannot afford to ignore the voting power of single parents at this election. Close to 9 in 10 of the single parents we polled earlier this year said they were likely to vote and our analysis shows the impact they could have, particularly in marginal seats.

“Parents say that politicians don’t understand some of the most important issues they face, but this election is single parents’ opportunity to let candidates know what would make life better for their families.” [5]

Single parents are concerned about balancing work and caring responsibilities, while being able to provide for their families. Research from Gingerbread has found that many single parents are struggling financially, under pressure from falling incomes and the rising costs of childcare and other essentials [6].

Single parent families have told Gingerbread they want to see the next government:
Bring forward plans to cover 85% of childcare costs through Universal Credit and ensure all eligible parents receive this support; increase the cap for eligible childcare costs to reflect the real costs.
Scrap child maintenance charges.
Take action to help single parents keep more of the money they make, increasing the amount single parents are allowed to earn before universal credit is reduced (the disregard).
Encourage more flexible working, leading the way through ensuring more flexi arrangements are built into public and contracted out services, and letting people negotiate flexible working arrangements from the point of job offer.
Single parents can write to their local parliamentary candidates from Gingerbread’s website. For more on the campaign go to www.gingerbread.org.uk/singleparentsdecide.