Lynda Waltho: Women losing out in battle to close gender gap
Women living in the West Midlands are losing out in the battle to close the “gender gap”, according to a new study.
Prospective Labour candidate for West Midlands Metro Mayor, Lynda Waltho, said her research showed that the gap between the wages of men and women was rising across the region, bucking the national trend.
The research, which is based on ONS figures, shows the pay gap in the West Midlands has risen from 17.84 per cent to 19.47 per cent over the last nine years.
In the UK it has closed nationally from 10.5 per cent to 9.1 per cent.
“Across the seven Metropolitan authorities only Wolverhampton and Walsall have seen the gap close a little," the former Stourbridge MP said.
"However, women in Coventry, Sandwell, Solihull, Dudley and Birmingham are falling behind.
“These figures should come as a wake-up call to business and political leaders in the West Midlands, that women continue to bear the brunt of low wages."
Ms Waltho is calling for better training opportunities for women, especially those returning to work after bringing up their families, improved child care, and flexible working hours.
She is the first prospective candidate to officially declare herself for Labour, in a race that could also include Birmingham MP Liam Byrne and Dudley councillor Pete Lowe.
