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| Harman urges ban on all-male clubs in Muirfield row | Harman urges ban on all-male clubs in Muirfield row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour is urging a ban on male-only sports clubs, saying it is embarrassing the UK's most prestigious golf tournament is being staged at a club that does not admit female members. | Labour is urging a ban on male-only sports clubs, saying it is embarrassing the UK's most prestigious golf tournament is being staged at a club that does not admit female members. |
| Harriet Harman called on Muirfield, which is hosting the Open Championship, to "drag itself into the 21st Century". | |
| The historic course, near Edinburgh, is one of a small number in the UK which does not accept female members. | The historic course, near Edinburgh, is one of a small number in the UK which does not accept female members. |
| Several leading politicians have refused to attend the event in protest. | Several leading politicians have refused to attend the event in protest. |
| Among those effectively boycotting the tournament include Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and Culture Secretary Maria Miller. | Among those effectively boycotting the tournament include Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and Culture Secretary Maria Miller. |
| The row comes amid a wider debate over sexism in sport following comments made by BBC presenter John Inverdale about the appearance of Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli and calls from Mrs Miller for the broadcaster to take more action on the issue. | The row comes amid a wider debate over sexism in sport following comments made by BBC presenter John Inverdale about the appearance of Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli and calls from Mrs Miller for the broadcaster to take more action on the issue. |
| 'Sporting success' | 'Sporting success' |
| On the first morning of the Open, one of the most popular sporting events of the year, Ms Harman called for action to ensure female golfers were treated equally and not discriminated against. | On the first morning of the Open, one of the most popular sporting events of the year, Ms Harman called for action to ensure female golfers were treated equally and not discriminated against. |
| "After the recent successes of female sport it is 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," said Labour's deputy leader. | "After the recent successes of female sport it is 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," said Labour's deputy leader. |
| She added: "It's time that Muirfield dragged itself into the 21st Century and let women in. It's time to ban men-only sport clubs." | She added: "It's time that Muirfield dragged itself into the 21st Century and let women in. It's time to ban men-only sport clubs." |
| Under existing equality laws, private associations such as golf clubs are able to restrict membership, although clubs with both male and female members are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of gender. | Under existing equality laws, private associations such as golf clubs are able to restrict membership, although clubs with both male and female members are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of gender. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he was dismayed that such "anachronistic" and "inexplicable" practices still survived. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he was dismayed that such "anachronistic" and "inexplicable" practices still survived. |
| "I find it so out of step with everything else that's happening in the rest of society," he said during his weekly phone-in on LBC Radio. | "I find it so out of step with everything else that's happening in the rest of society," he said during his weekly phone-in on LBC Radio. |
| "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. | "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?" |
| Mr Clegg said he favoured the clubs rethinking their culture voluntarily rather than passing new laws to impose changes. | Mr Clegg said he favoured the clubs rethinking their culture voluntarily rather than passing new laws to impose changes. |
| 'Grandstanding' | 'Grandstanding' |
| Asked whether the prime minister thought that all-male clubs had a place in modern society, No 10 said Mr Cameron had "a great deal of sympathy with the view that exclusive memberships of this sort looks more to the past than they do to the future". | Asked whether the prime minister thought that all-male clubs had a place in modern society, No 10 said Mr Cameron had "a great deal of sympathy with the view that exclusive memberships of this sort looks more to the past than they do to the future". |
| But the UK Independence Party said half of the single-sex golf clubs in the UK admitted only female members and accused Mrs Miller and Mr Salmond of "political grandstanding". | But the UK Independence Party said half of the single-sex golf clubs in the UK admitted only female members and accused Mrs Miller and Mr Salmond of "political grandstanding". |
| Mr Cameron has reportedly given up his membership of White's, one of the oldest and most prestigious gentleman's clubs in London, which does not admit women. The PM's late father Ian was the club's chairman. | Mr Cameron has reportedly given up his membership of White's, one of the oldest and most prestigious gentleman's clubs in London, which does not admit women. The PM's late father Ian was the club's chairman. |
| Muirfield is one of a number of regular Open venues which do not admit women as members, although they can play the course. | Muirfield is one of a number of regular Open venues which do not admit women as members, although they can play the course. |
| The R&A, which organises the tournament, said just 1% of the UK's 3,000 golf clubs have a single sex membership policy. | The R&A, which organises the tournament, said just 1% of the UK's 3,000 golf clubs have a single sex membership policy. |
| Peter Dawson, the body's chief executive, has said the practice is "perfectly legal" but acknowledged the existence of male-only golf clubs is becoming "increasingly difficult" and "divisive". | Peter Dawson, the body's chief executive, has said the practice is "perfectly legal" but acknowledged the existence of male-only golf clubs is becoming "increasingly difficult" and "divisive". |
| Augusta, which hosts the US Masters, admitted its first female members last year after years of pressure to do so. | Augusta, which hosts the US Masters, admitted its first female members last year after years of pressure to do so. |