Local MP Fiona O’Donnell has signed up to support the Scottish Labour Party’s five pledges for women and joined calls for the SNP to do more to support women across Scotland.

Ms O’Donnell was joined by Shadow Scottish Secretary, Margaret Curran MP to launch the five pledges. The pledges, which Scottish Labour will deliver in Government, are:

– More free childcare for working mums.

– Better pay for low-paid women.

– End discrimination against new mums at work.

– Tell companies to publish their pay gap.

– 50:50 representation on public boards.

Commenting on the pledges, Fiona O’Donnell MP said:

“As a part of the Labour movement I’ve seen first-hand how women’s rights have been won because of, and not in spite of, being part of the UK. From equal pay legislation to tax credits and maternity pay, Labour has always delivered for women and these pledges demonstrate how we will continue to do so going forward.

“But today, progress has stalled. While the Tories’ cuts fall disproportionately on women, the SNP have failed to make any difference. They promise more after independence in an effort to win women’s votes in the referendum, but this SNP Government has cut 47,000 jobs in local government and removed £1 billion from anti-poverty programmes -; hitting women the most.

“The best way of standing up for women in East Lothian is by remaining part of the United Kingdom, where we can pool our resources and share the risk across 65 million people. At both Westminster and Holyrood Labour is committed to taking action that will make a real difference to women across Scotland.”