Badenoch to vow to scrap public sector equality duty in effort to fend off Reform
Summary
Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative leader and former equalities minister, plans to remove the legal duty on public bodies to promote equality. She argues this duty leads to “divisive agendas” and wants to position her party as responsible but opposed to what she calls identity politics, contrasting with Reform UK’s plan to scrap the Equality Act entirely.Key Facts
- Kemi Badenoch was the Conservative minister for equalities from 2020 to 2022.
- She proposes scrapping the public sector equality duty (PSED), a law requiring public bodies to consider how to promote equality.
- The PSED applies to many public bodies, including the police and the Bank of England.
- Badenoch and the Conservatives say the PSED is being misused to push “dangerous and divisive” ideas linked to identity politics.
- The Bank of England’s decision to replace historical figures on banknotes with images of animals was criticized by Badenoch and others.
- Reform UK wants to scrap the entire Equality Act, which Badenoch’s party says would go too far.
- Critics warn ending the PSED could harm protections against discrimination based on race, gender, disability, and other factors.
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission supports the PSED and says it helps reduce unlawful discrimination in public services.
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