LONDON — Kemi Badenoch is scheduled to deliver a speech in London on Tuesday regarding public sector equality policy. She will propose scrapping the public sector equality duty during this address.
The public sector equality duty legally requires public bodies to consider ways to improve society and promote equality. In March, Badenoch announced the establishment of a "culture and integration commission." Barrister Andrew Dinsmore is advising this commission, and his recommendation for the repeal of the public sector equality duty is slated for publication on Tuesday.
Claire Coutinho, shadow minister for equalities, commented on the proposal. "We need to take identity politics out of public life and bring back common sense, fairness and equality before the law. Our public services should be focused on doing their jobs and keeping the public safe – not pandering to radical ideologies and pushing diversity and inclusion training, which does more harm than good," Coutinho said.
Badenoch served as Conservative minister for equalities from 2020 to 2022. She previously published an article claiming police actions were influenced by identity politics and the Black Lives Matter movement. The Equality and Human Rights Commission links the public sector equality duty to obligations that aim to end unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. The Equality Act 2010 prohibits these actions.
A spokesperson for the commission stated that the public sector equality duty does not hinder organizations from performing their public duties. "The PSED is not a barrier to these organisations doing the job the public expects them to do. Most take it seriously and use the requirements of the PSED to design the best possible services for everyone. It’s there to help them make good decisions, based on an understanding of the impact those decisions have on everyone that they affect," the spokesperson said. The chair of the commission completed a doctoral thesis on the duty and has stated that evidence suggests it positively impacts equality practice in public authorities.