Labour calls for pay link to Maternity Benefit and vows to increase paid parental leave

Among the promises set out by party leader Ivana Bacik are a pledge to index link social welfare payments, tax credits, and tax bands to cost-of-living increases

Labour's manifesto is promising to deal with 'six missions' over a five-year term of Government, including the introduction of 30,000 new public childcare places over five years. Stock Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Labour has called for Maternity Benefit to be linked to a mother’s pay as the party vowed to increase paid parental leave to up to a year.

Party leader Ivana Bacik made the pledge as she launched the party's manifesto, which also calls for the introduction of 30,000 new public childcare places over five years.