LETTER: Lib Dems first to combat ageism

From Mr David Chidgey, MP

Sir: I never cease to be amazed by the arrogance of the Labour Party's claims. Your report ("Labour is to outlaw age bias at work", 7 September) that the Labour Party was the first major political party to use the law to fight ageism is simply not true.

The Liberal Democrats promised as long ago as August 1993 to outlaw age discrimination in our policy paper Retirement with Dignity, which gives a clear commitment to "entrench equal rights for older people by outlawing discrimination on the basis of age".

And unlike the Labour Party, which only admitted the aspiration after a private letter was released, the Liberal Democrats have been putting pressure on the Government since our policy was developed.

But of course we always welcome Labour's support for our position, however belated it may be.

Yours faithfully,

David Chidgey

MP for Eastleigh

(Lib Dem)

House of Commons

London, SW1

7 September