Minister for "Women" and "Equality" Fails to even reply
Letter Sent To Harriet Harman, Does Not Warrant a Reply
The following is an edited version of a letter sent to the British Government Minister Ms Harriet Harman. Her responibility is as Minister for Women and Equality. Despite two letters, sent recorded delivery and an email, Ms Harman has refused to reply.
Email Sent (Hard copy sent same day)
I am writing to you in your capacity as Minister for Women and Equality, about a matter you should be made very aware of, and you should be totally appalled by.
I have provided links to the original story, I will also be following this email up with a “hard copy” on its way to you, which will include copies of letters from Buckingham Palace and the current Labour Government.
Mr Gordon Brown, Lord Mandelson and Jack Straw are fully aware of the situation and have merely stated that it’s “for the courts to rule”. This is despite that they have been clearly advised that BMI committed perjury in court. The judge has refused to allow an appeal. My solicitor, despite numerous requests for the Judgment was NOT sent a copy of the Judgment by the Tribunal, and did not get to see a copy at all until the time limit for appeal ran out. The court WAS aware that my solicitor was handling the case on my behalf.
In case you were in any doubt whatsoever of the seriousness of the situation I would advise you that under Labour the following is now acceptable and The Prime Minister wishes not to comment.
I will give you the following scenario:
A black person works for an airline and this airline starts to operate to South Africa, unfortunately at this airline the managers are not only culturally illiterate but also are guilty of racial stereotyping. The result of this cultural illiteracy is that the company issued a memo stating that due to “apartheid” being enforced in South Africa, (despite it not being the case for many years but merely due to the manager’s pitiful knowledge), there is a requirement for all black crew to walk behind the white crew. The option if the black person is not prepared to walk behind the white crew is a move to another section of the airline that will mean a cut in take home pay of approx 20%. The black person refuses to fly to South Africa. The Black person is dismissed and the Tribunal find that the company had only implemented a “proportional response to achieve a legitimate aim” and also that the Black crew would consider the company were merely abiding by the “rules of a different culture.”
If you replace Black with female and South Africa with Saudi Arabia, you have exactly my case.
Mrs Harman I have to ask you as the Minister for Women and Equality, is the above acceptable? You should be appalled to know that an employment tribunal judge has ruled that this is indeed acceptable, and now, due to legal precedents, is now law. I am sorry to say it has come to my attention that another British company is exploiting this precedent to blatantly discriminate against its female workforce.
I of course would be more than happy to meet to discuss the matter where I can provide you with all the details which includes proof that BMI lied on oath in court and that the judge’s comment that it was purely a “proportional response to achieve a legitimate aim” shows breathtaking racial stereotyping by the judge.
To remove any and all doubt, there is no legal, custom or cultural requirement for a female to be required to walk behind the men or for a western female to wear the abaya.
I would therefore value your response as the Minister for Equality so that I and the documentary audience would be aware of the current governments view on the matter.
I look forward to your prompt response.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Lisa Ashton
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