Green Party files complaint over Daily Mail’s ‘Legs-it’ headline

28 March 2017

Amelia Womack, Green Party deputy leader, has submitted a formal complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) over the Daily Mail’s ‘Legs-it’ headline [1].

She accuses the newspaper of breaching the Editors’ Code of Practice by discriminating against Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May because of their gender [2].

Womack said:

“This attempt by the Daily Mail to ignore years of progress by women in politics is utterly pathetic. The paper is deliberately ignoring the struggle women have faced to break into politics even though we now have a female prime minister, first minister and party leaders.

“As a young woman politician I find it absolutely extraordinary that a national newspaper has sunk to this level. Female leaders deserve to be treated with respect, not contempt, and I call on the editor of the Daily Mail to apologise to the Prime Minister and First Minister, and to all of the young women aspiring to be politicians who want to be recognised for their knowledge and achievements, not the shimmer of their legs.”

Notes:

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39416554

2. The full complaint reads:

I wish to make a complaint under the Editors’ Code of Practice relating to the Daily Mail’s coverage on March 28 of a meeting between Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May.

The coverage breaches clause 12 as the women are being discriminated against due to their gender.

To bring the politicians’ appearance into this story is not only entirely irrelevant but incredibly disrespectful.

This headline and the further derogatory comments inside the paper would not have even been considered, let alone published, if the two politicians in question had been men.

Women in the public sphere deserve to be treated with respect and the headline contributes to a wider culture of sexism. It reinforces a fallacy that politics isn’t a place for women, potentially putting off the next generation of leaders and decision makers.

I despair that a national newspaper thinks it is acceptable to pit women against each other in a competition over who is the most attractive.

Please will you consider if this coverage has breached the code and if so, take action against the Daily Mail to ensure this does not happen again.

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Green Party calls for inquiry into death of schoolboy as ‘Hillsborough Law’ Bill reaches Parliament

28 March 2017

The Green Party has joined calls for an independent panel inquiry into the death of seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola, who died in 2014 after his home in Surrey was flooded.

Zane’s family believes he was killed by hydrogen cyanide carried by floodwater from a nearby landfill site, despite the coroner ruling his death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

The family was denied legal aid and is now supporting the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, dubbed the ‘Hillsborough Law’ [1], which will be presented to parliament tomorrow, on March 29.

Caroline Lucas MP, Green Party co-leader, is co-sponsoring the bill.

Zane’s parents Kye Gbangbola and Nicole Lawler are requesting an independent panel of inquiry, as in the Hillsborough inquest, to review all documentation around Zane’s death. More than 30,000 people have signed a petition [2] to support their call.

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, met Kye and Nicole earlier this month.

Bartley said:

“I was struck by Kye and Nicole’s determination and resilience in terrible circumstances. They’ve shown enormous courage to continue fighting for justice in the face of a huge bureaucratic machine and vested interests weighted against them.

“I fully support their call for an inquiry and tomorrow we’ll take an important step forward with this bill reaching parliament. It’s crucial there’s a level playing field for families seeking answers about their loved ones’ deaths.

“The implications of Zane’s death are enormous, not just for his family, but potentially for everyone who lives near a landfill site, particularly as many of these sites are unrecorded. The authorities involved in the investigation must be accountable so we can make sure the truth emerges and that a tragedy like this never happens again.”

Notes:

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/08/hillsborough-law-launched-to-ensure-officials-act-with-candour
  2. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/call-for-a-public-debate-into-the-death-of-7-year-old-zane?bucket=+via+%4038_degrees
  3. More information about the campaigns are available at http://www.truthaboutzane.com/ and http://www.thehillsboroughlaw.com/.

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Keir Starmer responds to Tory calls for a ‘root and branch’ review of EU regulations

Keir
Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, responding to Tory calls for a ‘root and branch’ review of EU
regulations, said:

“The
report that Iain Duncan Smith cites describes basic employment rights as costly
regulations.

“On the eve of triggering Article 50 it
is increasingly clear that rights and protections are seen by many senior
Tories, including in the Cabinet, as an “expensive” luxury that British workers
and consumer consumers can do without.

“That is why one of Labour’s six tests for the Brexit deal is that it defends
hard fought for rights and protections and doesn’t lead to a race to the
bottom.

“The Prime Minister must stand up to the growing voices in her Party that see
Brexit as a once in a generation opportunity to dismantle the rights and
protections that underpin our economic model.”



Press release: Illegal boaters sunk with fines

Five boaters who did not register their vessels have been landed with penalties totalling more than £5,000.

River inspectors found the boats moored on the Great Ouse, Little Ouse, Old West and Nene – all part of the Anglian Waterways network managed by the Environment Agency.

It is a legal requirement for boaters to register any vessel they keep, use or let for hire on Environment Agency waterways, and to clearly display a valid registration plate. Vessel owners must also have the appropriate Boat Safety Scheme certificates and insurance, as part of the registration process.

Glen Wheatley of Farcet in Peterborough, Geoffrey Turner of Holbeach in Lincolnshire, Stuart Baker of Hockwold in Norfolk, Phillip Sunman of Eynesbury in Cambridgeshire, and Anthony Hague of Soham in Cambridgeshire all failed to register their vessels, as required by law.

Their cases were heard at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 8 March, and resulted in fines and costs totalling £5,166.10. Mr Wheatley was ordered to pay a total of £827.99, Mr Turner £856.98, Mr Baker £898.71, Mr Sunman £1,208.71, and Mr Hague £1,371.71.

Nathan Arnold, partnerships and development team leader at the Environment Agency, said:

Our historic and precious waterways are an important part of our nation’s heritage and are enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every year,” says Nathan Arnold, Partnerships and Development team leader at the Environment Agency.

A significant part of caring for them, protecting them, and ensuring people continue to enjoy them is funded by boaters paying their way. Those who don’t contribute as they should are threatening the future of our waterways – and we won’t hesitate to take action against them.

As well as not contributing to the upkeep of waterways, unregistered boats can be unsafe, hazardous to other river users, and a pollution risk to the local environment and wildlife.

The Environment Agency looks after 353 miles of navigable waterways in the Anglian network, which includes the Ancholme, Black Sluice, Glen, Welland, Nene, Great Ouse and Stour, as well as associated locks and navigation facilities like moorings, showers and toilets.

More information about boating and waterways, including registering vessels, is available at http://www.gov.uk/ea. If you suspect a boat is illegal, please contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506 or by emailing our Waterways team.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  • Glen Wheatley of Peterborough Road, Farcet, Peterborough, pleaded guilty by post and was given a fine of £103, and ordered to pay costs of £250, compensation of £444.99 and a victim surcharge of £30. The total penalty was £827.99. His vessel is Lady Angela.
  • Geoffrey Turner of Fleet Road, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, was found guilty in absence. He was fined £220, and ordered to pay costs of £250, £343.98 compensation, and a victim surcharge of £43. The total penalty was £856.98. His vessel is Bianco.
  • Stuart Baker of Pearces Close, Hockwold, Norfolk, pleaded guilty in court and was given a 12-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £878.71 and a £20 victim surcharge (£898.71 total). His vessel is unnamed.
  • Philip Sunman of Washbank Road, Eynesbury, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty and was fined £200. He was also ordered to pay costs of £100, compensation of £878.71 and a £30 victim surcharge. The total penalty was £1,208.71. His vessel is unnamed.
  • Anthony Hague of Bushell Lane, Soham, Cambridgeshire, was found guilty in absence and given a fine of £220. He was also ordered to pay £250 in costs, £873.71 compensation and a victim surcharge of £30. The total penalty was £1,373.71. His vessel is Quest II.
  • Powered-vessel owners will require valid insurance to register their vessels and most will also require a Boat Safety Scheme Certificate.
  • Registration must be renewed each year for the waterway on which a person is keeping or using their boat. People can also buy a visitor registration for shorter periods.


Greens ready to take fight for Manchester Gorton to Labour on May 4

28 March 2017

The Green Party has responded to news the Manchester Gorton by-election will be held on May 4 saying it is “ready to take on Labour”.

Jess Mayo, the Green candidate for Manchester Gorton, said:

“The Green campaign for Manchester Gorton has already started. We are the only party to take on Labour here and give voters a real alternative to the status quo. Whereever Greens are elected they make a difference, and we will fight hard to make sure Gorton is never overlooked for left behind.”

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, visited Gorton today (Tuesday 28 March) to join the campaign trail and visit Northmoor Community Centre, as well the constituency’s Curry Mile.

Bartley said:

“On May 4 Manchester Gorton could make history by electing a Green MP. It’s a privilege to visit this community and meet the people who call it home, and a Green MP would mean there is always someone fighting their corner and defending public services.

“We are ready to take on Labour for this seat.”

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