No roll-back on equality: a coalition committed to women

Friday 28th May 2010

Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities, today promised that the new Government would not roll back progress that has been made on equality.

In her first speech since being appointed, Ms Featherstone told the Fawcett Society that she would be a strong voice for women at the heart of the Coalition Government, alongside Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Theresa May.

The Government is committed to a bold and ambitious approach to tackling gender inequality, including promoting equal pay, ending discrimination in the workplace and ensuring that women aren't unfairly hit by moves to safeguard the economic recovery.

Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities said:

We understand that gender equality is not only right, it is necessary. Tackling discrimination helps us all - it is not simply a women's agenda but everybody's agenda.

We will not let the progress women fought so hard for slide backwards in this economic climate. We are committed to building a new landscape that works with women, where women and men are afforded the same opportunities and choices to realise their full potential.

The issue of equal pay is critical to this. Equal pay and measures to remove the barriers to flexible working are absolutely central to the Government's programme.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Please contact Anna Wright or Alex Marklew in the Government Equalities Office press office on 020 7035 3245. Outside office hours call 07500 816 959.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

  • The Government Equalities Office is responsible for the Government's overall strategy, legislation and priorities on equality issues. It was established in July 2007. The Office also has direct responsibility for policy on gender equality, sexual orientation, gender reassignment and for integrating work on race.
  • Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities, was speaking at a Fawcett Society / Unison / Trades Union Congress / Equality and Human Rights Commission event at Congress House in London.
  • The full text of her speech is available on the Government Equalities Office website at http://www.equalities.gov.uk/