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Harman urges ban on all-male clubs in Muirfield row Harman urges ban on all-male clubs in Muirfield row
(about 3 hours 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's deputy leader is urging a ban on male-only sports clubs, saying it is embarrassing the UK's most prestigious golf tournament is happening 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". Muirfield, which is staging the Open Championship, is among a number of UK golf courses which only men can join.
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. But Harriet Harman said ministers must go further and amend equality laws to stop "discrimination" by private clubs.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and Culture Secretary Maria Miller are among those effectively boycotting the four-day tournament in East Lothian, which began on Thursday.
'Unfinished business'
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' Ms Harman said staying away from one of the year's most high-profile sports events was a "symbolic gesture" and ministers should do "more than that" and change the law.
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. She urged ministers to close a "loophole" in the 2010 Equality Act, legislation which she piloted through Parliament, which strengthened protections against discrimination on the basis of gender, age, race and sexual orientation.
"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. But the legislation permitted private associations, such as golf clubs, to continue to determine their own membership rules.
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." Describing the legislation as "incomplete" and "unfinished business", she said Labour would support the government if it decided to bring forward new proposals to ensure women had equal access to all institutions.
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. "Let's not have pressure and gestures, let's absolutely do something about it," she told the BBC News Channel.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he was dismayed that such "anachronistic" and "inexplicable" practices still survived. "If you know it is anachronistic, out of date and it discriminates against women, you can actually amend the Equality Act to make sure that does not happen and we will give that backing."
"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. Both Nick Clegg and David Cameron have said they do not support institutions whose membership is restricted on gender grounds.
"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. 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.
"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.
'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". And 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.
"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?"
But Mr Clegg said he favoured the clubs rethinking their culture voluntarily rather than passing new laws to impose changes.
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.
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.