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Equal opportunities measures blocked by Conservatives
October 25, 2001 12:00 AM
Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London, has criticised Tory MEPs - including the four from London - for blocking measures intended to guarantee working parents do not suffer discrimination and to ensure gender equality is written into all government policies.
Sarah Ludford said: "I thought 'IDS' was supposed to be modernising the thinking of the Tory party on social issues. All I can say is that this modernising wave has not yet hit his band at Strasbourg."
The European Parliament recently voted on new laws to guarantee equal opportunities for women as well as men. The European Liberal Democrats backed moves to require EU national governments to 'mainstream' gender equality in all laws and to ensure that pregnancy, maternity or paternity leave or parenthood do not deny employees equal treatment. The Tories and their allies voted against these proposals, and prevented their adoption.
Sarah added: "I regret that the Tories do not care about people trying to reconcile work and family life. Clearly they are determined to remain stuck in the 19th century. No wonder they are unelectable!"
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