Day: January 15, 2014

GREEN MEP for London Jean Lambert has signed a pledge to put equality and human rights of LGBTI people at the heart of her work in the European Parliament.

Ms Lambert signed the ‘Come Out’ pledge, which has been organised by ILGA (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association), at a ceremony in Strasburg yesterday.

As well as promising to put equality and LGBTI rights high on the EU’s agenda if re-elected to the European Parliament later this year, Ms Lambert has agreed to take a number of specific actions, including working for the creation of a new EU Human Rights ‘watchdog’ to hold Member States accountable for any violations of LGBTI rights.

The pledge also calls for new EU Anti-Discrimination law, better protection for LGBTI asylum seekers, more investment in healthcare for LGBTI people – and to make the EU a world equality ‘champion’.

Ms Lambert, who is a member of the European Parliament’s cross-party group on LGBTI issues, said enhancing the rights of sexual minorities and promoting equality was a core value of the EU.

She said:  “The fight for the rights of all minorities – including LGBTI people – is an ongoing struggle in the world today, and the EU has a key role to play in ensuring equality and the protection of human rights for all.

“Unfortunately, there are still 76 nations in the world where homosexuality is a crime – and discrimination is all-too widespread, even in the EU. We must remain vigilant against new forms of repression again minorities: just this week, for example, the Greens are calling on the EU to condemn new anti-gay laws in some African countries.

“I am proud to work with ILGA Europe, and to have signed the ‘Come Out’ pledge, to do whatever I can to ensure that discrimination against LGBTI people in London, the EU and the wider world is seen as unacceptable and becomes a thing of the past.”

The European Elections are scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 22 2014.

Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has highlighted the increasing problem of secondary ticketing and how, in consequence, fans are losing out.

In a recent article for the Conservative Home website, Mike outlined the extent of touting across the UK stating we need an honest and transparent ticket purchasing process.

In order to help combat this issue in Parliament, Mike and his colleagues from both sides of the House recently founded the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ticket Abuse.

In his article, Mike wrote: “I have consistently been a champion of the free market and I want to be clear that I do not have a problem with artists or sports teams charging whatever prices they wish for the services that they offer. They should also be allowed to sell tickets through secondary ticketing or auction websites. However, as the online marketplace has become quicker and easier to use, a large number of unsavoury and illegal practices have sprung up surrounding ticket reselling websites.”

Mike commented: “I feel that it is important to raise this issue given that secondary ticketing takes place on an industrial scale. At the moment the fans are the losers so content creators need to be in control of how their tickets are sold to help create a transparent and well regulated system which works in the best interest of everyone.”