WOMEN are being hardest hit by austerity, according to Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Pudsey.

Jamie Hanley has echoed the concern of The Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading charity for women’s equality and rights, who have said that women have borne the brunt of austerity measures since 2010. The society says 85 per cent of all the welfare benefit cuts so far have come from women’s pockets – a figure which they say is on top of cuts in many local council and community facilities which women rely on more than men.

Mr Hanley, said: “Women have been hardest hit by this Tory-led government’s cuts.

“Not only is this completely unacceptable, this trend is set to continue if the Conservatives are selected to lead another government on May 7.”