Deputy Prime Minister from 1997
Until early 2001, men between the ages of 60-64 have been refused the right to bus passes, a privilege which women have had from 60. Our colleagues in PARITY (once named CESPA and primarily concerned with equal state pension ages, but now named PARITY and concerned about other discriminations against men) have gained a significant victory in the European Court.
Knowing the Court judgement imminent, John Prescott announced the Government's intention to give men the same privilege. How he did this is a cause of concern.
| This is a report of his announcement. In it, Prescott is
reported to have presented the change as "another example of the Government providing
extra help for pensioners", when the reality is that "The European Court told
[him] that he had ... to back down or fight the case". In other words he was forced
into it. Acknowledgement : The Sunday Telegraph 18 February 2001. |
|
We consider it outrageous that :
men were discriminated against at all in the first instance
men found it impossible to obtain a remedy to this blatant discrimination by contacting their MP or the Government, while any group of women with a similar problem would have had a remedy readily available
men have been forced to sue their own government, at considerable time and expense, simply to obtain fair treatment
while Prescott, according to the report, appears to have acted dishonourably by purporting that he was acting to "help ... pensioners", when he was foced into it.
Comment : when will we get open and honest politicians ?
