Patricia Hewitt, the former health secretary, and Caroline Flint, theformer Europe minister, have stepped in to urge the Prime Minister notto abolish the benefit, according to The Sunday Times.
More than 74,000 people have signed a petition on the Downing Streetwebsite against the plan, and almost 40 Labour MPs have signed aparliamentary motion against it.
Patricia Hewitt has said the proposals are 'the wrong thing to dosocially and the wrong thing to do politically'. She has said she wantsthe Government 'to think again on childcare vouchers'.
Caroline Flint said, 'This sends the wrong message to working mums. I amvery worried about us taking a benefit away from a group of workingwomen.
'We are in danger of not being seen to support working mothers, some ofwhom could find they are no longer able to afford to work.'
- See Analysis, page 10