|
Mentally ill can now become MPs in Britain
Sunday September 16, 2012 01:41:05 PM,
IANS
|
|
|
|
|
London:
British lawmakers have unanimously voted to end "discrimination"
against people suffering from mental illness, who will now be able
to serve as members of parliament, in juries and as company
directors.
In a rare private members bill backed by the House of Commons, the
practice of barring those who have suffered from severe mental
health issues from serving on juries or as company directors has
been repealed, the Telegraph newspaper reported.
MPs who have been institutionalised for psychiatric reasons for
more than six months will no longer be forced to stand down from
parliament.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband
were among those who gave their backing to the bill, introduced to
the Commons by Conservative leader Gavin Barwell.
The Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill was passed without a vote.
The report said private members bills usually fail to win support,
and are talked out of time when they reach the Commons.
"It's ludicrous in this day and age that a person can't contribute
to public life if they've had issues with their mental health,"
Clegg was quoted as saying.
"Discrimination like this has no place in modern society, and it
is right that these rules are repealed. These long overdue reforms
will send out a positive message that the stigmatisation of people
who have mental health problems should not be tolerated," he said.
Miliband said such changes "will help bring public understanding
and attitudes towards mental health into the 21st Century".
"They will send a message that discrimination against people with
mental ill health has no place in modern Britain."
"If people with experience of mental ill health play a full part
in public life, our country will be a better place for it," the
opposition leader said.
The legislation repeals part of the 1983 Mental Health Act which
forces MPs to stand down if they have been sectioned for more than
six moths.
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Headlines |
|
Political masterstroke to revive PM's reformer image: Analysts |
|
Saudi spiritual leader Al Al-Sheikh asks film
protesters to stop violence |
|
Man linked to anti-Islam film questioned by
officials |
|
Australian Muslims clash with police |
|
Missing Chinese leader Xi appears in public |
|
School girl chokes on tablet |
|
Bombay HC upholds ban on gutka, pan masala |
|
Chidambaram wants direct cash transfer to cut subsidy burden |
|
Memmoo, a phone to speak with many, to launch
in Kerala |
|
President rues no Indian varsity in world's
top 200 |
|
12th Plan document envisaging 8.2 percent growth approved |
|
Congress' student wing sweeps Delhi University
elections |
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
PM defends reforms, says it takes courage to
revive economy
But Mamata not
convinced, says reform does not mean 'sell out everything'
Just a day after announcing the steepest ever hike in diesel price »
12th Plan document envisaging 8.2 percent growth approved
BJP, CPI oppose decision on FDI in multi-brand retail
|
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
 Violence in
Ghaziabad: Six die in police firing
Six people were killed as police opened fire to break up a
rampaging mob denouncing the desecration of a holy book, police
and witnesses
»
Protest after Quran desecration in Ghaziabad
turned violent
|
|
President rues no Indian varsity in world's
top 200
Expressing concern that no Indian university featured among
the top 200 global institutions, President Pranab Mukherjee
Saturday urged the country's premier educational institutes to
step up efforts to join the league of the best. "I must convey my
sense of dismay on seeing a recent report that not
»
|
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
Congress' student wing sweeps Delhi University
elections
The Congress-backed National Students Union of India (NSUI)
Saturday won all four seats in the Delhi University Students Union
(DUSU), officials said.
NSUI's Arun Hooda won the president's post while Varun Khari
»
|
|
Protest after Quran desecration in Ghaziabad
turned violent
Police
station torched;
1 killed in
firing
One man was
killed in police firing and dozens injured when a mob, protesting
the desecration of a Quran, burnt down a police station and a
number of
»
|
|
Rs.500 fine for negligence causing death of
over 300 in Pakistan factories fire
The factory
owner in Karachi will have to pay a measly Rs.500 penalty for
negligence, said a media report after nearly 300 people were
killed in a blaze in Pakistan's port city. Under the Factory Act
1934
»
|
|
 Sindhu stuns London Olympics gold medallist
India's P.V.
Sindhu recorded the biggest win of her career Friday when she
stunned London Olympics gold medallist Li Xuerui of China to enter
the women's singles semifinals at the China Masters Superseries
badminton
»
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President of the Palestine
National Authority Mahmoud Abbas at the delegation level
talks, in New Delhi on September 11, 2012. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links