CampaignsAge DiscriminationA fair Britain should mean equal rights for older people A fair Britain should mean equal rights for older people
14/05/2008
Reacting to the draft legislative programme announced today by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Paul Cann, Director of Policy at Help the Aged, says:
“If the Prime Minister is serious about creating a ‘fairer’ Britain, he must go back to basics and ensure people have equal rights. It almost goes without saying that this should include older people - the fastest growing population group.
“Far from being treated as equals, older people are dismissed as second class citizens, denied their right to equality because outside the workplace it is perfectly legal to discriminate against them because of their age. In an increasingly ageing society, this is a moral outrage.
“The Equality Bill announced today is a real opportunity for Gordon Brown’s Government to show older people they care by introducing a complete ban on the age discrimination that ruins their lives. Three quarters of the electorate want age discrimination to be outlawed – it remains to be seen whether the Government is listening.”
The Help the Aged ‘Just Equal Treatment’ campaign is calling for the forthcoming Equality Bill to include proposals for legislation against age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services - including health and social care services(2). The Charity also wants the public sector equality duty - which currently requires local authorities to promote equality between people of different race, gender and disability status - to include age so older people’s needs are taken into account in public services.