Insurance industry up in arms after equality ruling

THE cost of life, car and health insurance could rise for women but drop for men following a ruling by the European Court of Justice.

Any premiums calculated on the basis of a person’s gender must be scrapped by the middle of December next year, the court has ruled, saying they were against the principle of equality.

The insurance industry was up in arms about it yesterday and eurosceptic political groups criticised the decision, some describing it as “utter madness” and saying it would increase car insurance by 25% for women under the age of 26 and drop by just 10% for young men.