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Childcare Costs a Key Election Issue for Voters.

A Woman's Hour poll shows that the cost of caring for your family is a key election issue. How are the parties addressing the cost of childcare? Presented by Emma Barnett.

According to pre-election research done for Woman's Hour by TNS BMRB the cost of caring for your family came out as the third most important issue for you as begin to think about how you will cast your vote on May 7th. Today we examine the issue of caring for children.

Anna Lyndsey's memoir 'Girl in the Dark' details her excruciating allergy to light and how she copes with a life in darkness. She discusses how she has survived moments of real despair, the impact her condition has had on her marriage and how she sometimes manages to see the outside world at daybreak and sunset.

As 50 Shades of Grey hits the cinemas we hear from a professional dominatrix about what the community think of the film and explore the British fascination with spanking, including the history of it in popular culture.

Plus how do you decide the best time to try and get pregnant?

Presented by Emma Barnett
Producer Beverley Purcell.

Available now

58 minutes

Last on

Mon 16 Feb 2015 10:00
BBC Radio 4

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Clip

Chapters

  • 50 Shades of Grey

    Duration: 07:27

  • Polling for Woman’s Hour: The Cost of Caring for a Family

    Duration: 11:16

  • Girl in the Dark

    Duration: 06:41

  • When's the Best Time to Have a Baby?

    Duration: 15:37

50 Shades of Grey

As 50 Shades of Grey hits the cinemas we hear from a professional dominatrix about what the community think of the film and explore the British fascination with spanking, including the history of it in popular culture.

Polling for Woman’s Hour: The Cost of Caring for a Family

According to pre-election research done for Woman's Hour by TNS BMRB, the cost of caring for a family came out as the third most important issue for women as they think about how to cast their vote on May 7th. Today, the rising cost of caring for children and what  the parties are doing to address the issue. Emma Barnett speaks to Dr. Kitty Stewart, Associate Professor of Social Policy for the LSE, Allegra Stratton, Political Editor of Newsnight and Anne Fennell, Vice Chair of Mothers At Home Matter.

http://www.mothersathomematter.co.uk

www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/

See the poll results in full here.

Girl in the Dark

In 2005 Anna Lyndsey was leading a normal life, falling in love and working as a civil servant, when one day she experienced a hot, burning sensation on her face. Anna noticed that her skin was worse when she was at work sitting in front of a computer. Her skin condition developed and spread to her whole body forcing her to quit her job and retreat into a darkened room. Anna’s memoir ‘Girl in the Dark’ details her excruciating allergy to light and how she copes with a life in darkness. Anna joins Emma Barnett to discuss how she has survived moments of real despair, what impact her condition has had on her marriage and how she sometimes manages to see the outside world at daybreak and sunset.

When's the Best Time to Have a Baby?

How do people decide when’s the best time to try and have a baby? Emma is joined by two listeners – old university friends Tiggy and Kristina to discuss. 

Credits

Presenter Emma Barnett
Interviewed Guest Anna Lyndsey
Interviewed Guest Mistress Max Absolute Absolute
Interviewed Guest Kitty Stewart
Interviewed Guest Allegra Stratton
Interviewed Guest Anne Fennel
Producer Beverley Purcell

Broadcast

  • Mon 16 Feb 2015 10:00
    BBC Radio 4

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    Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.