Government cuts roll back women’s equality

International Women’s Day marks the first era in living memory that the equality drive has gone into reverse… Women were predestined to be the great losers once the government decided to shrink the deficit with 80% spending cuts and only 20% tax cuts: women pay less tax and use more services. Of the £18bn cut from benefits, £11bn comes from women’s pockets, according to the IFS and the Fawcett Society. Single mothers take the worst hit, their incomes falling 8.5%.

More from Polly Toynbee here.

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Celebrating International Women’s Day

Today is International Women’s Day and to celebrate Tower Hamlets have been running a wide array of events throughout the week.

Often International Women’s Day focuses on women who have achieved monumental successes – who are leading countries, performing great sporting feats or pioneering in science or business.

Or it focuses on campaigning for women in countries where women’s equal rights are yet to be achieved.

However it is just as important for us to celebrate those women who contribute to improving the lives of people locally, or who have overcome their own difficulties to achieve success in their own lives and bring great benefit to the wider community.

I was proud therefore to be asked to take part in the International Women’s Day ceremony at Pritchards Road Day Centre. We recognised women who have inspired through achievement through education and employment, have made a difference to someone else’s life, or made positive changes to their own life.

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