Nick Clegg got an ear-bashing from an irate mum who accused his Government of unfairly targeting 'stay-at-home mums' during a phone-in on LBC radio.
Laura, from south London, told the deputy PM that the Government's new childcare scheme discriminated against traditional families
"You probably think what I do is a worthless job," the fuming mum-of-two told him.
Mr Clegg replied that the Government's aim was to help those who wanted to work but who felt childcare costs were too hefty - something Laura told him was of no use to families like hers.
She said that child benefit had been 'a fair way of recognising everybody's legitimate choice' either to go out to work or to 'work inside the home'.
"You've essentially abolished that for families like me and replaced it in some way with this which applies only to mums who go out to work," she said.
Mr Clegg told her he 'massively' admired her choice and that she should not be judged for it.
"You should be entirely free and proud of the choices you make in your own life to look after your own children in the way that you want," he said.
"I hope no politician would ever seek to judge you for that. This is all about what we can do in government to give people the greatest choice that they want and need in their own lives."
The Government's new tax-free childcare scheme will benefit working single parents and families with both parents in work. Mums and dads will be able to claim back up to 20VIRTUAL-SkimlinksPromo%