Harriet Baldwin MP, Chair Treasury Select Committee, said on Woman’s Hour this week that her number one recommendation to the Chancellor for the Spring Budget would be to change the Child Benefit system.  This is a massive turnaround and exciting for MAHM who via Miriam Cates MP and in cooperation with Tax & the Family sent briefing papers to Harriet.

Mothers At Home Matter tackled the unfairness of the tax system today at the House of Commons with a presentation to MPs hosted by Miriam Cates MP. MPs were set five quiz points - which no one got the answers correct - the answers are quite staggering.

Mothers At Home Matter was asked by the Telegraph to comment on the proposals put forward by Civitas on reforming childcare. Conversations around childcare must positively include and recognise those mothers who choose, or would prefer the choice to, carry out this valuable work themselves. For ten years the Department for Education has been sitting on evidence that two-thirds of mothers would rather work a lot less and spend more time being a mum, but policy announcements and government cash all go in the opposite direction. We need to listen to mothers.

Tax & The Family and Mothers At Home Matter write to The Guardian: Jeremy Hunt, the latest Chancellor, said that the Government should be compassionate, with those who are struggling. At a time of growing in-work poverty he should consider tax changes which benefit the least well-off — in particular those in poverty with incomes of less than 60% of the median; those where one parent stays at home to look after children or care for a relative; and those with large families.

This past week Mothers at Home Matter joined Tax and the Family at an online event hosted by Miriam Cates MP and CARE on the Taxation of Families.

The Chancellor in his Spring Statement said that the number one priority in the Conservatives desire for tax reform is to reduce taxes for ‘hard-working families’. The tax system does not recognise the ‘family’, writes our Chair, Anne Fennell. All tax cuts are for ‘hardworking individuals’. Focused tax cuts should be on HOUSEHOLD incomes with children.

MAHM’s contribution to the Treasury Select Committee’s ‘Tax after Coronavirus’ inquiry presented evidence to address the question: ‘Which areas of the tax system are most in need of reform?’

We focused specifically on income tax emphasising the pressing need for a fairer family taxation system. Our system of independent taxation is not fit for purpose for taxing families; it causes unfairness, injustice and even harm.