POLITICIANS TO ADDRESS 'ABSOLUTELY EQUAL' QUESTION
(18 September 2003)

Five leading equality organisations are to host 'Absolutely Equal' at this year's Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences.

Supported by Barclays, the 'Absolutely Equal' events are a collaboration between the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission, Equal Rights on Age and Stonewall. This year, as well as a reception to celebrate diversity, the events will feature a discussion by prominent political figures about each party's position on equality:

Liberal Democrat Party Conference
22nd September - Freedom or Equality?
8p.m. at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Brighton
Simon Hughes MP, Shadow Home Affairs said " I am pleased to be participating in this year's Absolutely Equal discussion. The Liberal Democrats are committed to stamping out discrimination and promoting a culture of tolerance and understanding in the UK. I welcome the opportunity offered by Absolutely Equal to consider how the Liberal Democrats can best embrace diversity and promote equality."

Labour Party Conference
29th September - Who is Labour Delivering For?
7p.m. at the Wessex Hotel, Bournemouth
Jacqui Smith, Minister for Equality, said: "I am delighted to be participating in this year's Absolutely Equal discussion. Equality and diversity are the roots of a thriving society - if people are valued as individuals they can make a full contribution at work and at home. Absolutely Equal's success in highlighting diversity demonstrates the benefits of different groups working together to value equality in the UK."

Conservative Party Conference
6th October - A Party Open to All?
8p.m. at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel, Blackpool
Oliver Letwin MP, Shadow Home Affairs said: "I am proud to be bringing the Conservative perspective to this year's Absolutely Equal discussion, and am looking forward to this year's event being as popular and as topical as ever. Today's Britain is one where every individual must be given room to flourish without being hampered by prejudice. The modern Conservative Party aims to reflect this in our work and in our vision for a successful nation."

ABOUT ABSOLUTELY EQUAL

Absolutely Equal is a consortium of leading equality organisations, including the EOC, CRE, DRC and Stonewall and this year it is also featuring the age lobby (represented by Equal Rights on Age). Every year at Conference we host the headline equality social event, sponsored by Barclays PLC, which has become an extremely popular feature of the Conference calendar.

ABOUT BARCLAYS PLC

In 2001 all members of the Barclays Executive Committee signed an equality and diversity charter for the Barclays group. The charter sets out Barclays vision and commitment to becoming a business leader in the field. Barclays aims to be an inclusive organisation, offering a choice of services and promoting equality and diversity at all levels.

Niccola Swan, Barclays Director of Equality and Diversity: "Barclays is delighted to be involved in Absolutely Equal again this year, for the fourth year running. We are undertaking a significant programme of work to embed equality and diversity into everything we do as a company; it's a crucial part of our commitment to social responsibility, and in the interest of our business and the wider community. Through our involvement in Absolutely Equal, we are able to support the promotion of equality in the wider society in a very positive way."

ABOUT STONEWALL

Stonewall works for legal equality and social justice for lesbian, gay and bi-sexual people.

ABOUT EQUAL RIGHTS ON AGE

Equal Rights on Age was set up in 1998 as an alliance of major age sector organizations in the UK committed to equal rights and better opportunities for older people.

ABOUT THE COMMISSION FOR RACIAL EQAULITY

The Race Relations Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against anyone on grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins. The Commission for Racial Equality was established under the Act to work for the elimination of discrimination, the promotion of equality of opportunity and good race relations generally.

The Commission can advise or assist people with cases before courts and employment tribunals and can conduct its own investigations when it has grounds to believe discrimination may be taking place.

Public bodies have a duty to eliminate discrimination in the way they work and to promote equality of opportunity and good race relations. The Commission is working to help them deliver this duty.

ABOUT THE DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION

The Disability Rights Commission is an independent public body set up in 2000 to promote equality of opportunity for all disabled people. It supports disabled people to use their rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

The DRC provides information and looks for practical solutions. It provides an independent conciliation service for disabled people and service providers and refers employers and disabled people to ACAS. The DRC also sets new legal precedents and tests the limits of the law and works for positive changes to law and policy affecting disabled people. The DRC's vision is of "a society where all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens."

ABOUT THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION

The Equal Opportunities Commission is the leading agency working to eliminate sex discrimination in 21st Century Britain. If women and men had equal chances in life, things would be different.

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