The Tories say Labor's child care plans are «a war against hard-working parents».

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of Labour's child care plans. Credit: Peter Summers/Getty Images

The Tories accused Sir Keir Starmer of plotting 'war on hard-working parents' over Labor's childcare plans.

Ministers say Labor leader is looking to save money on free childcare provided to thousands of middle-class families.< /p>

The Labor Party called the proposals «bullshit» and said it had no plans to make such changes, but would not rule it out in the future.

All parents in England who earn less than £100,000 a year can currently claim up to 30 hours a week of free childcare for children aged three and four. The system does not discriminate between eligible families, but some in the Labor Party argue that it should be more geared towards poorer households.

Party sources told The Guardian that one of the ideas being considered was to reduce work hours wealthier parents and redirecting cash to those with lower incomes.

Andrew Griffith, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said reports showed «Labour is planning a war on hard-working parents, making childcare less affordable the harder you work,» adding: «The policy is a down payment for a kind of vendetta against those who seeks to improve itself, which we can expect from a future Labor government.»

Treasury analysis shows that lowering the income limit to which parents are entitled to £60,000 would result in 63,000 children missing out free places.

Labor insisted that proposals they planned to change the threshold or cut childcare for the higher paid were far from the truth.

The squabbling comes as the two main parties prepare for the next election by fighting for which of the leaders has the best offer for parents. The British childcare system is one of the most expensive in the world and has been accused of hurting growth due to a shrinking workforce.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled a proposal by the Conservatives to extend the 30-hour offer for children. in nine months next year.

Childcare changes — what they mean to you

In January, Bridget Phillipson, shadow secretary of education, outlined plans to overhaul childcare, which she likened to the birth of the National Service healthcare. Her remarks were widely interpreted as offering free nursery places for all children over nine months old, although this was subsequently ruled out by Labor.

Ms. Phillipson has since said she would be moving away from the model of giving parents a specific number. free hours, but did not say what she would replace them with.

When asked about her plans last month, she twice ruled out changes to the means test as part of future reforms.

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The secretary of shadow education was also asked if Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, intervened to demand that her original plans be «cut» due to cost concerns, and she replied, «We need to know every part of what we've set up.» has so far been fully funded and fully paid for, and that will remain our position.

«We're going to face an incredibly difficult financial legacy because the Conservatives trashed the economy, and that's going to bring us some really tough choices.»< /p>

The Labor spokesman insisted that the party «has no plans to change the £100,000 threshold» and said the Tory claims were «nonsense on the part of the Conservatives, who should be ashamed of their track record when speaking it's about supporting families with childcare.»

A spokesperson said families are «struggling to find any available or affordable childcare because of the mess the conservatives have made of the system,» adding : «Labour is reforming our childcare system to better support families from the end of parental leave to the end of elementary school.»