Family-friendly Cameron pledges pay parity

Unveiling a package of family-friendly policies, the Conservative leader said it was wrong that women in Britain continued to be paid 17 per cent less than men.

"It is a disgrace men are getting paid more than women. I thought we were meant to have to have equal rights," he said.

As a first step, he is promising flexible parental leave, which would allow mothers and fathers to take time off at the same time to look after their newborn children.

Labour has announced plans to extend paid parental leave from 39 weeks to 52 by 2010. The Conservatives say the plans do not go far enough. Under their proposals the mother would take the first 14 weeks but it would be up to the parents how they divide up the remaining 38 weeks.

The mother could take the whole 52 weeks, or fathers and mothers could have 26 weeks simultaneously, with both claiming the £112 statutory maternity pay.

Mr Cameron said: "The world is changing. Men want to be more involved in bringing up children.

"It's not just when the baby arrives that's exhausting, it's after three or four months when the mother is tired and the baby's not sleeping through the night. That's when families may need more flexibility and choice."

He said sharing parental leave would help "cure" the pay gap.

"Women are not getting into some higher paid jobs because they are expected to take all of the leave to look after babies," he said.

To advertise the policy, Mr Cameron invited television cameras to film his family at their Notting Hill home. He was quick to defend using his family in this way.

He said: "People say, 'Should you open up your family life?' Well, people want to know what you are like. That's modern politics."

Business Secretary John Hutton said the Conservative proposals were "out of touch with hardworking people".