Gay exemption may be illegal, say MPs
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Government plans to allow churches, mosques and synagogues to discriminate against gay and lesbian staff may be illegal, a powerful parliamentary committee said yesterday.
The Liberal Democrats called for the proposals to be scrapped after the Joint Statutory Instruments Committee warned they may contravene EU anti-discrimination law.
The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 were meant to bring the UK into line with Brussels by banning workplace discrimination on grounds of sexuality. But the Church of England gained a last-minute exemption which the TUC, liberal church groups and gay rights campaigners claim would give religious organisations freedom to sack and not hire homosexual staff.
David Tredinnick, the committee chairman, said it was doubtful whether the Government had the power to include the exemption. Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on equality, said: "Downing Street caved in to the prejudices of extreme religious organisations who have consistently called for the right to sack lesbian or gay workers regardless of the relevance of their sexuality to their jobs."
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, the gay and lesbian lobbying group, said: "If the Government simply withdraws it, there would be no confusion."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments