Approach to women’s rights. Part 1
Cameron has made much of the fact that his new shadow cabinet and MPs include a roll-call of ethnic minorities, gay people and women. Theresa May, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Shadow Minister for Women, wrote an article in The Guardian, a strong pledge of support for women, in March of this year.
But scratch beneath the surface, and as with so many things with the Tory party, it’s all an elaborate hoax – airbrushed like so much else about Dave.
Since Cameron became leader, Tory MEPs have routinely block-voted against legislation which would help women have an equal status. Below is a list of some of the votes, and how they voted:
2006 – Tory MEPs voted against the commissioning of a Report on combating violence against women, including provisions to make rape within marriage a criminal offence, eliminating female genital mutilation, and improving cross-border co-operation on “honour” crimes.
2009 – abstained in a vote calling on member states to improve policies on combating violence against women, and which highlighted the importance of recognising rape within marriage as a criminal offence.
Teresa May mentioned genital mutilation, cross-border co-operation on violent crimes against women, and domestic violence as Tory priorities in her Guardian article.
2008 – Conservative MEPs voted against guidelines (which were nevertheless adopted) as part of the EU’s Growth and Jobs strategy. They included access to childcare, and targets for flexible working.
Feb 2010 – they voted against a report which looked at tackling the gender pay gap, explicitly disagreeing with the call to establish paternity leave across Europe, and against linking maternity and paternity leave.
Cameron has said “we’re going to give the right to flexibility to everyone with children under 18″, Theresa May highlights tackling inequality of pay as a part of her pledge.
Reason #7: Despite all protestations of supporting family life, Tory voting records show MEPs have consistently voted against abuse and equality legislation to help women.