Nearly 90 per cent of David Cameron's MEPs voted against a European Parliament resolution calling for "Action on Gender Equality".
David Cameron’s claims to have modernised the Tory party have suffered setbacks recently with renewed allegations of racism and homophobia – and now evidence, from Europe, of Tory sexism as well. Nearly 90 per cent of Cameron’s MEPs voted against a European Parliament resolution calling for “Action on Gender Equality”.
In all, only 85 of the parliament’s 735 members voted againt the motion – 22 of them Cameron’s MEPs, nine UKIP and the BNP’s Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons, giving Britain the unwanted distinction of being the only nation with a majority of MEPs against full equality for women.
The Conservative Party manifesto, unveiled this week, states (page 16) that:
“We will look at how to abolish the default retirement age, as many older people want to carry on working. And we will force equal pay audits on any company found to be discriminating on the basis of gender.“
It further states (page 35) that:
“By promoting equality and tackling discrimination, our policies, like recognising civil partnerships as well as marriage in the tax system and helping disabled people live independently, will give everybody the chance to play their part. This way, we can make Britain fairer and safer; a country where opportunity is more equal.“
Fine words; shame about the actions.
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26 Responses to “Cameron’s MEPs vote with UKIP & BNP against gender equality”
Michael Gove
RT @gleniswillmott: RT @kirkleesunity Cameron's MEPs vote with UKIP & BNP against gender equality http://bit.ly/d69yUz < glad people …
Glenis Willmott MEP
RT @kirkleesunity Cameron's MEPs vote with UKIP & BNP against gender equality http://bit.ly/d69yUz < glad people are noticing
Emma Peate
RT @kirkleesunity Cameron's MEPs vote with UKIP & BNP against gender equality http://bit.ly/d69yUz < glad (cont) http://tl.gd/sm062
Costello
The BNP and Labour are both socialist parties which have pretty much identical attitudes to capitalism and to the power that the state (i.e. they) should over over other people. There is a damn good reason why the BNP is strongest in historically Labour voting heartlands and that so many (i recall seeing a percentage of approx 50% mentioned) are ex-Labour supporters or members. The BNP is basically nothing more than the racist wing of the Labour Party and the relationship between the two is analogous to that of the Conservative Party to UKIP. The general election will see the BNP taking votes from Labour while UKIP takes votes from the Tories.
oleypete
Read the text of the resolution:
“14. Urges the Commission and the Member States to adopt and implement specific gender equality policies, including active measures, with a view to accelerating the achievement of de facto gender equality and promoting the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls”.
In this context, “Active measures” mean affirmative action and positive discrimination while “de facto gender equality” means equality of outcomes as opposed to equality of opportunity (de jure equality). It is perfectly legitimate to be committed to gender equality and oppose these measures on the grounds that they are perverse and counter-productive. Opposition to this resolution is not the same as opposition to gender equality.