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Miliband criticises childcare cost

Labour leader Ed Miliband has attacked the Government's failure to provide cheap childcare. He will claim the cost of a nursery price has risen by 30% since 2010 - almost five times faster than the average wage.

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Labour: Parents facing a 'childcare crunch'

Parents are facing a "childcare crunch" with rises in the cost of a nursery place outstripping the slow growth of wages, Labour leader Ed Miliband is expected to say in a speech later today.

Mr Miliband will claim that the coalition Government have done "nothing to help" families. Credit: PA

The average cost of a weekly nursery place has risen 30%, with Labour figures claiming 25 hours of childcare for an infant aged two or over per week costs £25 more than it did in 2010.

However, the average wage has only risen by £28 over the last three years, climbing from £449 to £477 per week.

Mr Miliband is expected to say: "We need to use the talents of everyone if we are to succeed as an economy and keep social security bills down.

"Seven out of 10 stay-at-home-mums tell surveys that the cost of childcare has deterred them from looking for a job."

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