If the government is serious about creating lasting change for women, it needs to make misogyny a hate crime

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Stella Creasy’s amendments to the upskirting bill are just one way we can cement fundamental changes for the rights of women into society (Getty)

A hundred years after some women got the vote, we have the opportunity to turn 2018 into the year for women. Stella Creasy’s amendments to the upskirting bill (Voyeurism Offences No 2 Bill) are just one way we can cement fundamental changes for the rights of women into society. Post #MeToo and #TimesUp, the government must listen to the voices of women telling of the harassment and abuse they receive simply because they are women.

As a cross-party campaigning coalition working to deliver change in this centenary year, Centenary Action Group members welcome these amendments as a crucial opportunity for the government to consider the unique ways in which women are targeted and to take forward legislation that could genuinely transform the lives of women.

It is vital that this debate reflects on the successful two-year pilot in Nottinghamshire where police worked closely with women’s groups in the community to ensure they were delivering genuine change for women. Addressing misogyny hate crime isn’t only about legislation to be used in court, Nottingham has proven that clear communications as well additional training for police can empower women to speak out against aggressors and abusers and send a powerful message to the community that misogyny will no longer be accepted.

We hope that our government will work to ensure that our legislation recognises what misogynistic harassment is – a hate crime.

List of Signatories

1. Amelia Womack, deputy leader, Green Party of England and Wales
2. Bee Rowlatt, chair, Mary on the Green
3. Catherine Anderson, CEO, Jo Cox Foundation
4. Catherine Fookes, director, Women’s Equality Network (WEN) Wales
5. Cerys Furlong, chief executive, Chwarae Teg
6. Deborah Nathan, co-chair, Association of Jewish Women and their Organisations
7. Dr Helen Pankhurst, CARE International UK
8. Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, founder & editor-in-chief, Women in Leadership Publication
9. Frances Scott, founder, 50:50 Parliament
10. Harriet Harman MP
11. Helene Reardon Bond OBE
12. Jennifer Nadel, author
13. Jess Phillips MP
14. Jo Swinson MP
15. Julie Siddiqi, co-founder, Nisa-Nashim Jewish and Muslim Women’s Network
16. Laura Marks, co-founder, Nisa-Nashim Jewish and Muslim Women’s Network
17. Mark Gale, policy and campaigns manager, Young Women’s Trust
18. Matteo Bergamini, CEO, Shout Out UK
19. Sam Smethers, chief executive, Fawcett Society
20. Vanessa Vallely OBE, managing director, We Are The City

How not to run a government department

Most fair-minded people will be frankly appalled at the news that immigration services have stranded a six-year-old boy, Mohamed Barrak Diallo Bangoura, in Belgium.

I am sure there will be copious comments about how cruel and inhumane it is, but I shall attempt to concentrate on the workings of said government department.

What on earth are the Home Office trying to achieve? – yes, I know, a reduction in illegal immigration – but that is not the case here, as Bangoura was born here and was not attempting to walk through the Channel Tunnel!

All the Home Office has achieved is to create headlines and almost universal condemnation. This now is becoming a human rights issue and will surely escalate, but it is obvious he will be allowed back to be reunited with his mother. Then, if an attempt is made to “remove” the whole family (probably the ultimate goal) they will lose in court due to the cruel and inhumane actions of the government where human rights are concerned.

How mind-bogglingly stupid are these people? This all stinks of targets, lack of staff, lack of training and just about a lack of everything, including Sajid Javid getting a timely grip on things.

Robert Boston Kent

Why not adopt a universal definition of racism?

Perhaps the nub of the problem with antisemitism is the insistence by some that it is a special form of racism that requires a unique definition. This is a contestable position.

A single universal definition of racism to cover all of its manifestations would be far preferable.

Permitting any group to enforce its own worldview on the opinions of others is undesirable. The thought police must be resisted at every turn.

Steve Ford Haydon Bridge

Labour and the IHRA definition of antisemitism​

I’m pleased that despite the Labour Party endorsement of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, Jeremy Corbyn still believes that the creation of Israel is a racist endeavour, presumably since it has denied Palestinians the right to self-determination and nationhood. It’s just what Europeans such as the Cornish, the Scots, Basques, Catalonians, Corsicans (let alone ethnic minorities in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, as well as Native Americans, Maoris, Australian Aborigines and others) must be thinking about the creation of their own central-government nations. Let’s hope, without irony, Jeremy is invited soon to a rally for freedom for Cornwall where he can condemn Britain’s creation as a racist endeavour.

GR Rubin Canterbury

What happened to the book report?

With school holidays starting and finishing around the world to the cheers or jeers of many students, there is the regular book report to consider – it’s time to Google what a book is.

Some students may have the alternative version: “what I did over the holidays”. If the teachers want to make this more challenging, they could add “that didn’t involve typing or scrolling”. To make it even more difficult, they could add “and written, by hand, on paper”. This was once a routine homework task for most readers of The Independent, although the current generation doing these reports won’t be reading a newspaper letter about homework.

Maybe the schools should set some compulsory homework – go outside into the sunlight and read a physical book for an hour. There is an urgent need for this physically passive exercise that provides mental exercise.

Dennis Fitzgerald Melbourne, Australia

The UK economy is working just fine

Speaking ahead of the report’s launch on Wednesday, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, said: “For decades the UK economy has not worked as it should.” Rubbish! The UK economy has been working exactly as “it should”, as defined by the ideology initiated by Thatcher and pursued by New Labour, and in which Mr Welby was active as a banker.

What’s reported here suggests the IPPR is not going far enough: nothing on financial transaction tax, land tax, a salary ratio in public and private sectors of not more than 20:1, and I expect there is much more to be said on shareholder primacy. Much of what appears in this article has been known about for ages, ever since the “Loadsamoney” days satirised by Harry Enfield.

Robin Le Mare Cumbria

The Elizabeth Line

Payment of bonuses to Crossrail executives is clearly questionable (why aren’t they paid at the end of the project?) but do not be too hard on them, for a nine month delay in completing this huge and complicated undertaking.

Ask Berliners, when will your new airport open? Scheduled to open for business in 2011/12 and massively over budget, a new opening date is announced each year and inevitably missed. I suspect I will be travelling on Crossrail long before I land at Berlin Brandenburg airport!

Tony McMahon West Sussex