WOMEN heaped praise on Jeremy Corbyn yesterday after the Labour leadership contender presented his policies to tackle inequality, including the introduction of free childcare services.

On Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, the Islington North MP called for universal free pre-schools paid through taxation and a shadow cabinet that would be half female.

“You’d have a pre-school free childcare service, rather than the charging or free one depending on your income level at the present time,” he told listeners.

“I think early years socialisation of children is very very important. It’s good for the children, it’s good for the families.

“The success for the slightly older children’s of Sure Start and children centres has been amazing.

“They bring together families of all backgrounds and all outlooks.

“We need a better educated community.”

The Labour leadership frontrunner also pledged to challenge “everyday sexism” by ending cuts to women’s services, including domestic violence refuges, and investing in better sex education in schools.

Mr Corbyn also wants to extend the government’s new gender pay audits, which currently cover companies with more than 250 employees, to all of Britain’s firms.

Social media reactions to the proposals showed streams of women cheering for Mr Corbyn, while a handful of men whined about them.“Absolutely loving @jeremycorbyn on women’s hour,” wrote Twitter user Sophie Croft.

Fellow tweeter Sue Murphy added: “Come on girls! Jeremy Corbyn talked this morning about equality for women don’t just listen let’s go out and take it!”

However, the policies did not go down well with  Simon Belt, who wrote: “Jeremy Corbyn on Women’s Hour on Radio 4 and he’s the worst state authoritarian imaginable.”

Children’s charities, on the other hand, supported the MP’s proposal for a national education service that would aim to boost lifelong learning.

Family and Childcare Trust chief executive Julia Margo told the Star: “Children’s centres offer less than 2 per cent of childcare provision in England.

“With 46 local authorities in England and Wales reporting a shortage of after-school clubs and 39 with shortages in holiday childcare, schools offer a lifeline to many working parents.

“We want to see more schools offer wraparound care to help fill the acute shortages in childcare for school-aged children, so that if parents want to work, they can access the childcare they need.”