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Nick Clegg dismayed at Muirfield's men-only stance Nick Clegg dismayed at Muirfield's men-only stance
(35 minutes later)
Nick Clegg has expressed his dismay that the Muirfield golf club, the venue for this year's British Open, still excludes women from becoming members.Nick Clegg has expressed his dismay that the Muirfield golf club, the venue for this year's British Open, still excludes women from becoming members.
Speaking on his weekly LBC' s Call Clegg he said "I was just dismayed and incredibly surprised to hear this still goes on in this day and age. Speaking on his weekly LBC show Call Clegg he said: "I was just dismayed and incredibly surprised to hear this still goes on in this day and age.
"I find it so out of step with everything else that's happening in the rest of society. It just seems so old fashioned and so anachronistic to just have a golf club saying that just because you are a woman you can't be a member of that club. "I find it so out of step with everything else that's happening in the rest of society. It just seems so old-fashioned and so anachronistic to just have a golf club saying that just because you are a woman you can't be a member of that club.
"I think many people will just shake their head and say 'how on earth is this still possible in this day and age?'" "I think many people will just shake their head and say: 'How on earth is this still possible in this day and age?'"
He added: "I'm dismayed the club does not accept women as members. I find that inexplicable in this day and age, I really do. He added: "I'm dismayed the club does not accept women as members. I find that inexplicable in this day and age, I really do."
Harriet Harman, the shadow culture secretary, went further than Clegg in calling for golf clubs to be ordered to admit women by law. They are currently exempted from Equality Act. She said; "After the recent successes of female sport it's an embarrassment that this year's British Open, a world class sporting event, is being held at a club which does not admit women members. Harriet Harman, the shadow culture secretary, went further than Clegg in calling for golf clubs to be ordered to admit women by law. They are currently exempt from Equality Act. She said: "After the recent successes of female sport it's an embarrassment that this year's British Open, a world-class sporting event, is being held at a club which does not admit women members.
"It's time that Muirfield dragged itself into the 21st Century and let women in. It's time to ban men-only sport clubs."Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Maria Miller is boycotting the Open over host Muirfield's refusal to admit female members. Sports minister Hugh Robertson and Scottish first minister Alex Salmond have also said they will not be attending the event. "It's time that Muirfield dragged itself into the 21st century and let women in. It's time to ban men-only sport clubs."
The culture, media and sport secretary, Maria Miller, is boycotting the Open over Muirfield's refusal to admit female members. The sports minister Hugh Robertson and Scottish first minister, Alex Salmond, have also said they will not be attending the event.