PRESS RELEASE

Phoney Tony? Vague Hague?

GENERAL ELECTION 2001
THE POLITICAL PARTIES POSITION ON AGE DISCRIMINATION

When are the major Parties going to address this issue effectively? LEAD is
dismayed, even angry - and so should the nation be with the replies we
received from letters sent to the Leaders seeking their commitment. Read
what they say. With the notable exception of the Liberal Democrats they are
bland and non-committal.

Age discrimination hurts us all, you, your children, all members of the family.

Some examples:

• Young people - 16/17 year old's are treated differently in the
  labour market and in the benefit system. Homeless young cannot rely on
  benefits. Under 18's are not protected by the minimum wage - is this
  because they have no vote?
  
• Older people - without legislation there is no sure way of
  protecting them in hospitals, homes and higher education.
  
• Retirement age - it is all right for MPs (and Rupert Murdoch!) but
  not for most people to go on beyond 60/65?
  
• Many over 50's - even over 40's - are on the scrap-heap, costing
  the nation billions in social security payments and lost taxation.

So, where is Tony's just and fair society he promises for us all in his election addresses?

Does this lead to the conclusion - Phoney Tony - or, indeed, Vague Hague - given the Tory Party's response to us?

A national crusade is needed to press the political parties to take action.
Write to your national or local paper. Pressure your local candidate.
Contact L-E-A-D's web site (open on 23rd May).

We need to move this issue to centre stage.

RESPONSE OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES

CONSERVATIVE PARTY
"We will certainly bear your thoughtful comments and ideas in mind as we carry out the work on the manifesto"

By letter dated 8th March in which "Mr Hague appreciates you taking the time to pass on your suggestion for our general election manifesto"

LABOUR

The letter on behalf of Mr Blair says "You can be assured that the government is concerned about ageism" and refers to the campaign launched on
the 13th February by Margaret Hodge MP to challenge age discrimination in the work place. The letter also says that the government has launched a
national media campaign to "raise the profile of the advantages of an age diverse workforce and the benefits to be gained from making good use of
skilled and experienced workers".

This letter dated 27th April advised that L-E-A-D's points had been carefully noted and that a copy had been sent to the Department for Education and
Employment.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

"The Liberal Democrats are committed to reducing age discrimination across all sectors of society. If elected the Liberal Democrats would give statutory force to the............. Code of Practice to ensure that all employers implement equal opportunities in selection, recruitment, promotion and normal working practices, including measures to tackle discrimination."
The Lib Dems would ban compulsory retirement age to give more flexibility over the drawing of pensions and allowing people to continue working if they
wanted to. The Lib Dems would also propose lowering the minimum age to cover workers from the age of 16 - and lower the voting age to 16.

That was by letter dated 20th March. In a further letter the Lib Dems say,
"They support a broader piece of legislation in the form of an equality act policy". They would establish a commission "to deal with problems of
inequality across all sectors, one of which would be age discrimination."

PLAID CYMRU

This party "strongly opposes that type of discrimination and is sympathetic toward the use of legislation for that purpose" The leader apologises by
letter of the 29th March that there is no specific reference to this issue in their election manifesto.

SCOTTISH NATIONALIST PARTY

No reply has been received to date from the Leader of the Scot Nats.

L-E-A-D emphasised to the political parties that age discrimination occurs not just in employment but in many areas such as benefits, taxation, education, health and social care, insurance and access to services - and that it could affect younger as well as older people.

We said it was simply not good enough to implement the EU Directive over the next six years.

All enquiries to:

John Lipetz
Chair, LEAD
25 Parliament Court
Parliament Hill
London NW3 2TS

Tel 020 7794 5343 Email johnlipetz@hotmail.com