Harriet Harman MP, Labour’s Deputy Leader and Equality Minister declared Labour’s commitment to equality as the Equality Bill was published in Parliament today.

The Equality Bill – a 2005 manifesto commitment - will make Britain stronger, fairer and more equal. It sets out groundbreaking new laws which will help narrow the gap between rich and poor; require business to report on gender pay; outlaw harmful age discrimination; and will significantly strengthen Britain’s anti-discrimination legislation.

Harriet Harman MP said:

“Labour is the party of equality and we’ve done more than any government to promote fairness and equality. The new Equality Bill continues that tradition.

“A level playing field with greater equality and opportunities is important for each individual, for a strong economy and for a cohesive society.

“The recession has put a focus not just on people’s fears for today but on their hopes for tomorrow. That hope is for a fair and equal society which is stable and prosperous.

“It was Labour governments that introduced the Race Relations Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Sex Discrimination Act, new legal rights for disabled people and changed the law to allow gay and lesbian “civil partnerships”. Labour governments always stand up for equality. When the Tories were in government they did nothing to press forward on equality – instead they brought in the notorious homophobic 'clause 28'.”