It's just four days old, yet already the Conservative / Liberal Democrat political coalition government is facing criticism after Prime Minister David Cameron announced his cabinet.
Cameron and his deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg leader of the Liberal Democrats, both from wealthy families, went to the top schools, as did most of the 23 member cabinet, that effectively run the UK. Equality, seems not to be a word familiar in this new coalition government, 22 of the cabinet are white, and at least 16 went to top universities Oxford or Cambridge, it's pretty much seen as 'job's for the old boys network!
"Cabinet jobs for well-heeled school chums," said he Daily Mirror newspaper, "A huge step backward," claimed activists in The Times. "Awash with buddies, backslapping and in-jokes," was what the The Guardian newspaper said.
Call in shows on talk radio stations were awash with people complaining and commenting when Cameron announced his choices, most of the complaints were about the lack of women and minorities in the cabinet.
Theresa May, the most senior female figure in the Conservative Party and the new Home Secretary, will also serve as minister for equalities. Now, this posting, perhaps more than any others is causing condemnation, whilst May is seen as a bit of a modernizer, she still voted against equalizing the age of consent for gays, in 1998, she voted against letting gay couples adopt children in 2002. Not a great record for a minster responsible for equality.
With prospects of huge tax increases on the very near horizon, cuts in service a real possibility the future under this new coalition government, is not looking promising in the slightest, which perhaps explains why the phrase on everyones lips at the moment is Con/Dem nation!
Jason Shaw
GayAgenda.com's UK Correspondent
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© 2010 Copyright Jason Shaw
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