Labour Euro MPs have led the calls for new EU equal rights legislation and condemned Conservatives for supporting a 'hierarchy of discrimination' in a European Parliament vote today, as the internal battle rages in the European Commission seeking to restrict their proposal to disability alone in their decision due on the 25th June.
Michael Cashman MEP, President of the Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights of the European Parliament, has challenged the Conservatives to end their appalling record on anti-discrimination legislation by reconsidering their position.
Michael Cashman MEP said: "Not only have Conservative MEPS failed time and time again to support anti-discrimination legislation, they actually boast about it. Just a few weeks ago they proudly announced that they had stood up for companies that wished to discriminate in the supply of goods and services."
"Labour MEPS have always supported legislation to end discrimination in the supply of goods and services on the grounds of disability, religion or belief, age and sexual orientation."
Speaking on behalf of the Socialist Group, Labour's Richard Howitt MEP who is President of the European Parliament's Disability Rights Group of MEPs said: "I am proud that we collected 1.3 million signatures for disability legislation but on behalf of the Disability Rights Group, I place on record my support for a comprehensive directive."
Richard Howitt MEP underlined that there should not be a hierarchy between different forms of discrimination: "We cannot outlaw discrimination in one area whilst allowing it in another. I will not support legislation which will divide and rule."
Claude Moraes MEP, President of the Anti Racism and Diversity Intergroup and Vice President of the Ageing Intergroup: "We stand firm on the need for age discrimination legislation and for religion and belief not to be excluded or treated as inferior forms as discrimination in the hierarchy imposed by the European Commission."
Amendments tabled by Labour MEPs say that any new directive should prohibit all forms of discrimination, including direct and indirect discrimination, in all areas that fall under the EU competences as well as education, lifelong learning, social protection and social security, housing and healthcare, images of discriminated groups in the media and advertising, physical access for people with disabilities to information, telecommunication, electronic communications, transport modes and public spaces, social advantages and access to and supply of goods and services with are available to the public.
For more information please call the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.
