By Jess McCabe | 18 January 2008, 13:58

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has unbelievably withdrawn support from female council workers taking their employers to court over years of pay discrimination, according to The Times.

The commission is backing the line taken by the unions, that fair pay for school cleaners and other council workers is just too much to ask.

Although the legal case will continue, £16,000 funding from the commission will cease and the women will have lost a highly respected backer.

Those of us who were concerned that gender equality would be put on the back burner when the Equal Opportunities Commission merged into the Equality and Human Rights Commission will only be able to feel a sort of bitter disappointment that we look to be proved right on this one.