Another quango won't solve inequality

9.11.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 11th Sep 2008

Lynne Featherstone MP

Commenting on Harriet Harman's announcement that the Government is to create a National Equality Panel to tackle inequality, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone said: "After a decade in power it is astonishing for Labour to think that yet another quango is going to solve deep-rooted social inequality. A panel of experts is not going to tell them anything that charities and NGOs haven't been shouting from the rooftops about for some time - inequality is growing.

"Labour ministers have become well versed in asking for a second opinion whenever they don't like the first. Hundreds of thousands of people continue to struggle with the odds stacked against them, yet the Government continues to dither rather than act."