Left-wing pressure group Compass has presented a 100-idea plan to the Labour government, urging Andy Burnham to introduce a maternity fund modelled on Denmark's DA Barsel scheme. The proposal is part of a broader set of recommendations for the Prime Minister's first 100 days in office.
Maternity fund proposal
The think tank suggests that all companies pay a small quarterly sum per employee into a national fund, from which companies can claim pay for staff during parental leave. This would even out the cost of hiring women across employers, reducing the burden on small companies and making female employees more attractive to hire, the paper adds.
The plan also calls for limits on foreign property ownership, arguing that foreign ownership of residential property without living in it is “distorting housing availability, enabling money laundering and incentivising luxury developments out of reach for ordinary citizens”.
Devolution and governance
The paper reports that devolution’s powers for mayors and combined authorities have benefited communities and there is scope to do more. However, per the principle of subsidiarity, devolution must extend to the most local level compatible with effective delivery, avoiding creating an unaccountable intermediate layer of government.
It also says governance arrangements for Combined Authority Mayors need improved scrutiny, transparency and accountability, rolling out the Greater London Authority model (Assemblies of 25–35 members, elected by PR) across England.
Immigration stance
The document is highly critical of the government’s approach to immigration, instead calling for a “positive immigration stance”. Compass argues that “Labour's adoption of Reform/Conservative style immigration policy has been an abject failure, both morally and electorally”, instead calling for a "principled, positive case for immigration and Britain’s responsibility to take a share of people displaced by climate change and war”.
Compass added: “Note: Inclusion of a policy doesn’t necessarily equate to full endorsement of the policy from Compass or any individual/organisation named here.” The plan presents a comprehensive agenda for the first 100 days, covering economic, social, and governance reforms.
