Gordon Signs Up To Bringing An End To Ageism
Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden has signed up to support the ‘Just Equal Treatment’ campaign run by leading older people’s charity Age Concern and Help the Aged. The campaign aims to bring an end to ageism, the most common form of discrimination experienced by adults in the UK.
Research by Age Concern and Help the Aged found that two thirds (68 per cent) of people over the age of 65 believe that politicians see older people as a low priority. However, the Government’s Equality Bill currently being considered by MPs will for the first time give protection for older people against discrimination in goods and services like health and social care and in financial services like travel insurance.
Mr Marsden, who hosted the formal celebration of the new joint organisation in Parliament recently, says: “I have been very pleased to help coordinate Age Concern and Help the Aged on our successful lobby of Health Ministers to ensure that older people were covered by the Government’s new Equality Bill.”
“I know from talking to people locally in Blackpool that older people do worry about fair treatment, and so it’s right that the Government has now taken steps to protect older people in this legislation.”
Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director for Age Concern and Help the Aged says: “The fight against ageism has been long and hard but it is finally reaching the ears of Westminster. The Equality Bill will be a landmark event for older people in Blackpool and we are delighted that Gordon Marsden has not only signed up to our campaign, but worked with us to lobby Ministers on equal treatment for older people.”
“It is now vital that all political parties rally around this Bill and make an unbreakable legal commitment to safeguard the three out of five North West adults who worry about how they will be treated when they turn 65.”
