Last week it was announced that many councils are among the top 100 gay-friendly employers in the country. Haringey Council does not appear on the list, which was released by Stonewall as part of their Workplace Equality Index 2013.

In total, eighteen councils were in the top 100. Four London councils – Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest – were among them.  The London Ambulance Service also made it on to the list.

The Workplace Equality Index is Britain’s leading tool for employers to measure their efforts to tackle discrimination and create inclusive workplaces for lesbian, gay and bisexual employees. Since 2005 more than 750 major employers have taken part in the Index, using Stonewall’s criteria as a model for good practice.

The Home Office, where local MP Lynne Featherstone was formerly the Minister for Equalities and Criminal Information, was at number 5 on the index.

Lynne Featherstone MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, comments:

“I congratulate all the employers who made it on to the Stonewall list. I was particularly pleased to see that the Home Office, where I was formerly a Minister, made it into the top five.

“I hope that Haringey will one day follow the example of other councils, and join the list as one of Britain’s top gay-friendly employers.”

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem opposition Leader, comments:

“It’s a real shame that Haringey is not on the list. The council needs to attract the best and the brightest to work in the Borough and being on Stonewall’s index would help to do that.”