Women disproportionately affected by austerity, charities warn

Coalition of charities says Conservatives' planned cuts to social security, public sector and legal aid risk widening gender inequality

The UK risks widening gender inequality because of austerity policies that disproportionately affect women, a coalition of charities has warned.

Cuts to social security, the public sector and legal aid will only worsen women's position in British society, the charities say, while proposals for a five-year lock on tax rises will benefit men over women. Those factors in combination mean that women will bear the brunt of measures to pay off the deficit, they argue.

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