All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others

You know when something is really controversial when the Pope gets involved in politics. The Equality Bill has divided the UK- but not our two main political parties, who, as David Cameron has said, agree on 95% of the Bill’s content. The Liberal Democrats take a different view however, believing the Bill does not go far enough.


It’s hard to be negative about the Equality Bill- who doesn’t like equality, right? But the Bill makes some important changes and clarifies the law, in ways that will affect all of us.

Positive discrimination will still be illegal (nightclubs that allow girls in free might want to rethink their policies...gulp) but positive action will be allowed. This is where, if there are two equally qualified candidates, an employer may choose to hire the one that is from an under-represented group. Supported by all main parties, though the Tories think the law is a bit messy and unclear.

The pope was less concerned with whether Poli-Chick can still enter a club for free. His concern was that religious organisations would be forced to hire homosexuals and women as priests. In his view, the exemption for religious groups was not wide enough. It is a tricky balance for any government- the right for freedom of religious belief and right to a private life must co-exist.

On gender, the parties’ views split slightly. Labour want all large businesses (with more than 250 staff) to report on their gender pay gap. The Conservatives want this requirement to only be on businesses that have been found against at Tribunal for discriminating against women. The Liberal Democrats think all businesses with more than 100 staff should have to analyse their gender pay gap.

Poli-Chick isn’t convinced that such calculations work- pay can easily be manipulated depending on what is included. And it isn’t all about money- flexible working, holidays and opportunities for promotion are also important. But what is clear, is that on the 40th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, women still get paid less than men.

Mind the gap...

Poli-Chick xx