Tories should repeal this bill

Harriet Harman has been given an official warning for exaggerating the pay gap between men and women.

She claimed that women were paid 23% less, but Sir Michael Scholar, the statistics watchdog, says 12.8% would be a more accurate figure. Harriet Harman's figure includes part time workers and more of them are women.

On top of race, disability and gender, (public bodies) will have to promote equality in sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment.

Schools, hospitals and other organisations with 150 or more employees will have to report annually on their gender pay gap and employment rates of black, ethnic minority and disabled staff.

They will also have a legal duty to use public spending totalling £ 175billion a year to 'drive equality'.

As with home education inspections (see post below), the Conservatives should say now that they will repeal this costly and discriminatory bill if they gain power.