by Liam MacUaid This is unbelievable. The French Parliament, on the eve of Bastille Day, voted 335 in favour of preventing Muslim women wearing a full face covering veil in public. There was only 1 dissenter . Le Monde reports that the new law was strongly supported by the right. The gutless Socialist, Communist and Green

On the BBC news today is the story that 'Hundreds of thousands more women will be able to claim a full state pension from 2010'. Previously, many women could not receive the full pension as they had not contributed anough National Insurance due to child care. This Bill looks to even things out a bit! Good for Purnell.

Thousands of women who have stayed at home to look after their children will get the chance to qualify for a full state pension by making a top-up payment, the government announced today. James Purnell, the work and pensions secretary, is going to amend the pensions bill currently going through parliament to make it easier for women to qualify for a full basic state pension, currently worth £...

Thousands of women who have stayed at home to look after their children will get the chance to qualify for a full state pension by making a top-up payment, the government said yesterday. James Purnell, the work and pensions secretary, is to amend the pensions bill going through parliament to make it easier for women to qualify for a full basic state pension, currently worth £87.30 a week...

In the Guardian's A woman's place series, Lesley Abdela laments the paucity of women in parliament. Eighty years on, the UK parliament rates 69th in the world league of women in parliament, one ignoble place below Cambodia. Women's representation in politics is not linked to whether a country is rich or poor. The US has 16.8%

Muslim women could be fined for wearing full-length veils in public in France under a bill approved overwhelmingly yesterday (13 July) by the lower house of parliament.

An opinion poll has been published about opinions towards the constitutional set-up for Wales. (BBC News: Majority back law-making assembly) Whilst it seems doubtful that there will be a referendum just yet, the direction suggests opinion settling towards what could be the final settlement for Wales. The figures are: In favour of turning assembly into full law-making parliament: 52% Against turnin...

BBC:Some women in countries where abortion is restricted are using the internet to buy medication enabling them to abort a pregnancy at home, the BBC has learned. Women in Northern Ireland and over 70 countries with restrictions have used one of the main websites, Women on Web. This is one of the best examples of why we do not need stricy abortion laws. Women, if they want/need and abortion will h...

I don't know how true this is, but it is at least worth a look. I have copied the image here (click on the image for the full-size version).Of course, it is by now ell known that the BBC is full of Guardian-reading Lefties — indeed, they don't advertise job vacancies in other newspapers, so it is hardly surprising. One aspect feeds off the other.The supposed public service broadcaster has been

Listening to the radio yesterday lunch time I heard some fellow from the BBC Trust trying to tell an interviewer how the public would rather be given their money back than to allow the sacred BBC licence fee to go to other organisations. ( To get the full dose of arrogance you need to listen to the programme ). Today we here the BBC thinks it might have to do less - but James Murdoch is very wrong...