MARK Jenkinson has welcomed the launch of the Conservative Party’s 2024 election manifesto, setting out a clear plan to help parents across Penrith and Solway.
Policies includes rolling out Family Hubs to every local authority, offering a vital set of services and act as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for families including early language and communication development, mental health support for parents and carers.
The Conservatives will also raise the threshold for the High-Income Child Benefit Charge from £60,000 to £120,000 and end the unfairness of the current system by moving to a household rather than individual basis.
This will cut taxes for 700,000 families by an average of £1,500, boosting families’ financial security and giving them more money to spend on the things that matter.
This builds on the Conservatives’ ongoing delivery of the largest ever expansion of childcare. From September 2025, children aged 9 months and over with eligible working parents will be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare until they start school, saving families an average of £6,900 per year. This will remove barriers for mothers returning to work empower parents to make the choice that is best for them, whether that be a career or a family.
The Department for Education has invested in Cumbria’s first Family Hub in Whitehaven – part of a Government initiative bringing services together into a single site, and making it easier for families to access support.
Mark Jenkinson, the former MP for Workington, and the Conservative candidate for Penrith and Solway, said: “As a father-of-four, I understand how tough it can be for parents.
“These challenges have been compounded by Covid and Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and Covid driving up the cost of living.
“Raising children is hard work for any parent, particularly in the first years of a child’s life, and our bold action will support families by rolling out more family hubs, expanding free childcare and ending the unfairness in Child Benefit.
“Supporting parents has always been important to me. As MP for Workington, I launched a survey about Government plans to double free childcare for parents.
“I also published a free information booklet for parents about the Government-funded support available which saw thousands of parents of two-year-olds across the country are now getting help with their childcare costs as the first phase of the biggest ever expansion in childcare.
“Labour, meanwhile, is talking about scrapping the expansion – which is saving parents £6,900 a year and helping 60,000 more people into work.
