MAYBE instead of procrastinating about equal pay campaigns as reported in the BEN recently, David Crausby MP should put his weight behind the force of law to even up the equal pay discrepancies.

It has obviously slipped his mind that since the European Communities Act 1972 the UK has been part of the now named European Union. That since Directive 76/207, in particular Article 5(1), and based on the Treat of Rome (1957) Article 189 (now 249) the equal rights of men and women have been enshrined in UK law. And has had direct effect as found in the Marshall case since 1986.

So, along with Julie Mellor, maybe they would consider taking some of these unequal pay disputes to court. I mean it's only been 31 years since it was deemed illegal in UK law, and found to be so for the last 17 years.

I can't believe our politicians are that out of date. Surely not?

Ainslie Casson MA

Church Walks, Westhoughton