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UK to lift ban on mental patients as MPs

Last Updated 04 May 2018, 07:48 IST

Keen to end discriminatory rules, the David Cameron government in the UK is supporting a private member's bill to end a ban on people who have had serious mental health issues from becoming MPs, company directors or serving on juries.

Under current rules, MPs detained under the Mental Health Act for more than six months need to vacate their seats.

The rules are considered discriminatory, according to Conservative MP Gavid Barwell, who moved the Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill in the House of Commons.

The bill is currently progressing through Parliament and is expected to become law following cross-party support.

Barwell told the House: "The current law is both discriminatory and an ass. My bill's purpose is very simple: to tackle the last legal form of discrimination in our society. To our shame the law of the land still discriminates against those with a mental health condition." 

He added: "An MP or a company director can be removed from their job because of mental ill health even if they go on to make a full recovery.

"Many people who are fully capable of performing jury service are ineligible to do so. The law as it stands sends out a clear message that if someone has a mental health condition their contribution to public life is not welcome. That is an affront to a decent civilised society." 

Barwell's bill was supported by the government as well as the opposition Labour party.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "The government is doing a huge amount to try and remove some of the stigma surrounding mental illness, and I am delighted to be able to support this private member's bill, which addresses a problem in the House of Commons - my own workplace."

He said: "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. Discrimination like this has no place in modern society and it is right that these rules are repealed." 

Agreeing, Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Attitudes towards mental health are changing but we still have further to go to reduce the taboo that surrounds mental health, and this is an important step towards equality. These changes will help to bring public understanding and attitudes towards mental health into the 21st Century."

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(Published 16 September 2012, 10:06 IST)

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