The Women’s Equality Party are calling for urgent measures to protect women’s rights, as Britain votes to leave the European Union.
Sophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, said: “Voters have made their voices heard and they have decided that Britain’s future is brighter if we leave the European Union.”
“This morning WE call for urgent measures to retain and expand the vital rights and protections created as a result of our former EU membership. The EU prompted Britain to introduce legislation insisting on equal pay, maternity leave and protection from sexual harassment in the workplace. Now Britain must lead the way among its former partners to champion these rights and set out clear targets for the next, pressing advance of women’s equality.”
In the historic referendum, Britain has voted to leave the EU with a majority of 52 per cent, prompting the Prime Minister, David Cameron to resign from his position. Global markets have fallen and the pound has dropped more than 10 per cent against the dollar, to levels last seen in 1985. European banks, including Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays and Lloyd’s Banking Group, have also dropped since the results of the referendum were published.
Walker added that women should now be included within the process of leaving the European Union, despite the lack of women’s voices during the campaign.
She continued, “This was a horrible campaign; an argument that until the final days of the referendum campaign was conducted largely between white middle-class men, with ill humour and little understanding of voters’ disenfranchisement.”
“The other political parties must learn from this. They must do better to represent British people, particularly women who are consistently undervalued and undermined in our country’s most pressing decisions.”
“It is essential that women be included in the huge job this country now faces of removing itself from the European Union. Their voices are essential for a full understanding of women’s needs and right to equal opportunities, and also for any possibility of an independent Britain reaching its full potential.”
