What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

EU politicians have called for women and men to do half the housework each - and a Tory MP is not happy.

The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality wants the EU to launch a campaign to highlight the "equal division of domestic work".

Members claim the unequal division of family responsibilities needs to be addressed by bringing in measures to ensure men do their equal share of domestic labour.

The comments are part of the "EU strategy for equality between women and men post-2015".

Research two years ago said British women still do two-thirds of all housework even when they work more than 30 hours a week.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

But the proposals have been met with criticism by right-wingers, who said the EU is meddling in family life.

Tory MP Philip Davies said there are more prominent issues to worry about.

He told the Huffington Post UK: "With Greece and the eurozone reaching crisis point, you would think the EU would have better things to be doing than lecturing families on who should be doing the housework."

Ukip MEP Louise Bours also spoke out against the proposal, telling the website: "It is up to adults in the privacy of their own homes to decide who does what."

(Image: Joel Goodman / MEN)

The report also states that equality in the jobs market hasn't been achieved, with 74% of men having a job, but only 62.5% of women.

It says women still do the brunt of the housework and caring for others, and often work part time despite wanting a full time job.

The strategy for gender equality is a plan implemented by the European Parliament, which seeks to address gender inequality like the wage gap.

David Cameron has been forced to back down over holding a referendum over Britain's EU membership next May after backbench Tories complained it would be too soon.