When the mother of all childcare promises is 'one for the mums', it proves things need to change

When Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced his free childcare plan in this week's Budget, he said 'it is the right thing to do for many women'.

In those 10 words he summed up how our so-called equal society is in fact anything but.

In the main it's women who are still classed as the primary caregivers and face endless pressures to do that - and more.

Despite being told we can do anything and be anything we want to be, when it comes to having children, it's still mostly women who take a step back from their careers.

Read more: Plan for 30 hours free childcare for under fives goes 'down like a lead balloon'

I'm not talking maternity or paternity leave here, I'm talking about those early years of a child's life, where a couple has to decide whether paid childcare is best the option, or one of them needs to leave work or go part-time because it's the only way they can afford to make ends meet.

And all too often it's a no win situation for women to be in.

Work full-time and not only do you lose precious time with your kids, but you're often judged to be putting your career before them. Leave work and you're a sell-out who gives nothing back to society.

Work part-time, which often becomes full-time in a desperate attempt to keep up with workload and convince sceptical colleagues you're still worthy of a job, and you're left feeling like you're not able to give your all to ANY of it.

Yes there are some dads who have dropped their careers, or reduced their hours, to look after their children, but they're still few and far between. And those who do aren't judged in the same way women are. If anything they're celebrated for going against the norm and stepping into the shoes so often filled by females.

What mum hasn't been to a