Politics: Stop cricket funds, says MP

THE England and Wales Cricket Board should be deprived of public funds until it promises to improve its equal opportunities practice, an MP said yesterday.

A Commons early day motion put down by Liberal Democrats followed an industrial tribunal victory for a former Lord's receptionist, Theresa Harrild, who said she was bullied into having an abortion and then unlawfully dismissed. The motion said public and lottery funds should be stopped until assurances were given about employment policies. Jennifer Tonge, MP for Richmond Park and the motion's author, said: "I find it inconceivable that this sort of behaviour is prevalent today. We are no longer living in the dark ages."