Sir - A gender equality investigation into key EU institutions by Get Britain Out has disclosed that the bureaucrats of the EU are failing to practice what they preach.

This comes days after a new European Commission survey revealed that 92% of Britons agree equality between men and women is a fundamental right whilst only 74% agree tackling sexism is a priority.

A shocking disparity was revealed in the level of pay of male and female employees in EU institutions. Our Freedom of Information request placed with the European Council showed the average monthly pay of female employees is £5,119 whilst the equivalent for men is £6,1785; this leads to male employees being paid £12,792 on average more than their female colleagues.

It is said that sexism is also rampant in the European Central Bank; not only are women outnumbered by 43% to 56% but the numbers at the top playing a managerial role earn average £7.736 less than their male colleagues holding the same position. The E.C.B. attempts to excuse this by saying it is due to a "larger proportion of male staff members in managerial positions at the start of the institution 15 years ago and the subsequent impact on career progression".

In July last year President-elect Jean Claude-Juncker appointed only 9 women to the 27 available positions, the same number as in the previous Commision.

The EU has always been eager to portray itself as a supporter of the rights of women. Following Get Britain Out's research it is now obvious that this is empty rhetoric and is being used to cover up the true mysogynistic backwards outlook of these dinosaurs in Brussels.

Britain should take no lectures about gender equality from a European Commission riddled with such duplicitous double-standard. No comment needed?

Wendy Hands

Upton-upon-Severn