Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Long way still to go in gender equality battle
February has historically been a newsworthy month.
From the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587 to 1929 and Benito Mussolini granting political independence to the Vatican, the second month of the year has seen some huge events.
Perhaps the occurrence that affects most people in the UK was the victory in 1918 of the suffrage and suffragette movements in securing votes for women, albeit at the start it was only for those over 30.
It took another 10 years for that fundamental right to be extended to allow all women over 21 equal voting entitlement to that of men.
While there is no doubt that things are far better than they were 100 years ago, there is still a long way to go in the fight for gender equality.
The recent outcry on BBC salaries is but one example of how far we still have to travel.
We still see pension inequality for women – as evidenced by the WASPI campaign – and the gender pay gap in local authorities and businesses still permeates.
Recent figures have revealed that companies like Ladbrokes (15 per cent pay gap), the Co-operative Bank (30 per cent) and Premier Foods (10 per cent) are guilty of paying women less.
We must do better on pay and also ensure better representation at senior levels of public and private organisations.
I want my children’s generation to grow up to be able to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way and not be stuck under a glass ceiling.
February also saw the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 which tied the UK into a political union with 11 other European countries, a number that has now grown to 27.
How far things have come in the intervening 26 years. Much has changed and yet in many ways nothing has changed.
The Tories are once again ripping themselves apart on Europe, putting the national interest second to party interest.
Regardless of our views on Brexit, there is no doubt that the UK government is approaching it in a reckless, ideological and incompetent way.
On to another matter, Alex Neil MSP and I are busy trying to arrange a meeting with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to discuss the proposed closure of the Airdrie branch.
Thanks to the SNP-led campaign, 10 RBS branches in Scotland have been given a stay of execution.
Alex and I are very keen to make a strong case for keeping Airdrie open too.
I had a petition out around the town centre which has raised hundreds of signatures, and I will be presenting it to Parliament soon.
We are also backing Councillor Michael Coyle’s campaign to save the Chapelhall senior citizens’ centre.
There will be a public meeting in the venue’s hall on Monday at 7.30pm so that we can keep up the campaign against this totally unnecessary proposal.