Real’ Living Wage increases by 2.9% outside London

For some of the lowest earners in the UK todays news brought about a much needed pay rise.  Whilst the Government set levels for minimum wage remain low the voluntary National living Wage organisation rates are now 10.55p per hour (in London) for the first time. 

Disproportionately women make up nearly 2/3rds of low paid workers in the UK based on the research by KPMG in 2017, commenting on this Living Wage Foundation Director, Katherine Chapman said:

“These figures show that more can be done to reduce the 3.4 million working women earning less than the real Living Wage across the UK. Women make up nearly two thirds of the 5.5 million people in low paid roles, who are feeling the squeeze as inflation rises".

To read more about this please read https://www.livingwage.org.uk/news/news-women-continue-be-hit-hardest-low-wages-uk 

Women and Equalities Committee Report

On October 23rd following months of dedicated research and questioning the Women and Equalities Comittee  published its' research report  'Sexual Harassment of Women and Girls in Public Places'.  

Flo Clucas Chair of LDW wrote the following piece for Lib Dem Voice either click on the link below to read it in full with comments or go to show more to bring up the excellent article wording without comments.

Click To Read Article on Lib Dem Voice 

"On this International Day of the Girl, let us recommit to supporting every girl to develop her skills, enter the workforce on equal terms and reach her full potential." — UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Each year since 2012 October the 11th has been a day where we look to empower girls whilst highlighting the unique challenges that they face.

Only 19% of women with learning disabilities have had a recent cervical screening, compared to 73% of the general population

A recent article in Stylist explores some of the issues

The 2018 autumn conference directory is now out and looking busier than ever.  Please download your copy here  

We would love to see you; at our stall, enjoying one of our fringe events, voting on our motion, discovering future LDW plans at our AGM, participating at training or drinking cocktails with other Lib Dem Women.  Please read on to find out more

The evening is hosted by Southwark Liberal Democrats and is entitled 'Equal Power, Diversity and how we make change happen...' and will take place from 18:30 on Monday 16th April 2018 at the Half Moon Pub in Herne Hill. Speakers include Jo Swinson, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Melissa Gordon, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Rotherhithe Ward and Co-Vice Chair of the Southwark Liberal Democrats.

Not found a way to mark the day? 

At Liberal Democrat Women, we have a few ideas.