Recently "A long list of ideas designed to appeal to women was unveiled, who argued that UKIP 'recognises very much the huge contribution women now make to UK society'." This seems quite different to "earlier this month [when] Nigel Farage memorably opined that women were 'worth less' than men and do not face discrimination in the City."
When polls revealed that UKIP was losing votes due to so many women opposing them, they decided to target this group in order to gain more support around the country. Some of their 'feminist' policies include:
- 3,000 more midwives for the NHS- Access to specialist mental health services for all pregnant women and new mothers
- Wrap-around childcare - breakfast and after-school clubs - for all school-age children
- 'Zero tolerance' for illegal cultural practices or ones that 'conflict with British values' - forced marriages, female genital mutilation and honour killings
- Commitment to increasing the allowance for carers - 58% of whom are women - in line with inflation
- Scrapping the Tampon Tax
Clearly these policies would all be beneficial to women, however some of them are mere by-products of their strong anti-immigration and anti-Europe views. For example, if we take the issue of FGM, obviously this is something that is unacceptable and should certainly be stopped, however it is unclear as to why UKIP wants to combat FGM all of a sudden. Is it so it can promote women's rights and fight for a fairer society? Or is it just another way to demonise foreigners and add to the growing islamophobia in Britain? It's probably a mixture of both.
Furthermore if we examine the detail of the tampon tax issue, then we in fact discover that this is something which is merely a side-effect of leaving the EU. That is to say that currently, due to EU regulations the UK is unable to change the tax rate on tampons and other sanitary products, therefore UKIP is using this issue to demonstrate the stifling regulations of the European Union.
Perhaps I am being too harsh, and maybe UKIP have changed for the better. Of course these policies could be in good faith, long planned and saved up to win over those last few voters in the run up to the election. However, unfortunately I am completely convinced. You have the facts now, you make a choice - has UKIP truly decided to support women?
Written by Lili
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