THE Women’s Equality Party (WEP) will say today that women need “action not words” to close Britain’s £245 billion gender pay gap.

Leader Sophie Walker will make the call, which echoes the Suffragettes’ “deeds not words” motto, as she unveils the new party’s policy programme in London this afternoon.

Ms Walker is expected to criticise both Tory PM David Cameron and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for “bickering” rather than tackling gender inequality.

She will say: “It seems to me that they are more interested in claiming the right to deliver equality than actually deliver it.
“Where’s the action?

“Their only action is to shoot down any other party’s talk about how they might deliver equality, reducing our right to participate to a cynical messaging contest.”

Achieving equal pay is among six core objectives being set out by Ms Walker, a former Reuters journalist.

The party also called last week for gender quotas in the next two general elections to achieve a gender-balanced parliament by 2025.

But despite Ms Walker’s attack on the record of Britain’s biggest parties on the gender pay gap, the WEP has not yet set out any firm proposals of its own.

Shadow equalities minister Cat Smith insists that Labour remains “the only party that delivers for women in this country.”
Labour has delivered maternity pay, the Equality Act and the minimum wage, she said.

Ms Smith told the Star: “There are many small political pressure groups and small parties that I do find common ground with.

“But I’m a big believer in making a change now, so that’s why I’m proud to be a Labour MP.

“We’re the second-biggest party in British politics. If you’re serious about making change then you’ve got to get with the Labour Party.”

The WEP has attracted 45,000 members and supporters since its launch in May with the support of comedian Sandi Toksvig.

The party is expected to field candidates for the regional lists in the Welsh and Scottish elections in May.