Women need help, says BBC ageism solicitor Camilla Palmer

Published: 14th January, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

THE Tufnell Park solicitor behind presenter Miriam O’Reilly’s landmark victory against ageism at the BBC has called for a nationwide support network for women who suffer discrimination.

Former Islington Council legal worker, Camilla Palmer, 57, described her delight after the BBC offered her client an apology following the case, and the possibility of a new job within the organisation. It will also be expected to offer more than £100,000 to the award-winning journalist in compensation.

Discrimination expert Ms Palmer, a partner with Clerkenwell solicitors Leigh Day and Co, believes there is a huge problem of ageism against women not just in the media but also in many other professions.

“We would like to set up a national support network for women going through similar experiences at work,” Ms Palmer said. “We could provide legal and other advice. It will be an opportunity to exchange experiences. Making a claim against your employer is a very isolating thing to do.”

A tribunal upheld 53-year-old Ms O’Reilly’s claim that the BBC’s decision to drop her from rural affairs programme Countryfile in favour of younger presenters was age discrimination.

Mother-of-two Ms Palmer, who worked at the Child Poverty Action Group before qualifying as a solicitor in 1983, said she had received many congratulatory messages from women all over the UK and Europe.

“One woman said she felt a lot safer now,” said Ms Palmer. “I hope employers will take notice.”

And she revealed her feelings about Ms O’Reilly’s case when it first came to her 14 months ago. 

“I was open minded but as I read the documents I gradually thought it all sounded pretty fishy,” said Ms Palmer.

“Litigation is not easy. It is expensive and time consuming and may not be good for your career. But Miriam felt she had nothing to lose.

“Miriam’s been so brave to take this case. She took it on behalf of a lot of other people because she believed it was the right thing to do.”

One of Ms Palmer’s near neighbours, Tufnell Park TV actress Kate Buffery, who has been campaigning for more roles in film and TV for older women, has watched the case with interest. The star of Wish Me Luck and Crime and Retribution has collected more than 8,000 signatures for an online petition on behalf of the actors’ union Equity.   They include Imelda Staunton and Roger Lloyd Pack.

Ms Buffery said: “More than half the viewing public is female, according to figures, yet in TV drama for every female character there are two male characters – that’s 35.3 per cent female roles to 63.5 per cent male roles.

“Whilst leading parts are frequently played by male actors over 45, women in this age group start to disappear from our screens.”