Arabic version: كيمي بادنوك تقترح إلغاء واجب المساواة في القطاع العام

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is set to propose the elimination of the Public Sector Equality Duty in a speech scheduled for Tuesday. According to BBC News, Badenoch will argue that the duty has been exploited to promote what she describes as “dangerous and divisive agendas”.

The Public Sector Equality Duty, which was introduced in 2010 as part of the Equality Act, mandates public bodies to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. Badenoch believes the duty has complicated public decision-making and exposed significant decisions to legal challenges.

This initiative coincides with a promise from the Labour government to introduce a new equality and diversity strategy aimed at increasing representation of working-class individuals in the civil service. The Conservatives are attempting to differentiate their stance from Labour, which has reinforced equality protections, and from Reform UK, which advocates for more extensive changes.

Badenoch’s remarks follow recent events that have raised questions about equality policies, including the murder of Henry Nowak and the police response. She is expected to emphasize that scrapping the duty will eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and encourage public authorities to focus on their core responsibilities.

Responses to Badenoch’s proposal have been mixed, with critics asserting that it undermines efforts to promote equality. A spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission defended the duty, stating it is designed to help public authorities make informed decisions that consider the impact on all individuals. Meanwhile, opposition figures have labeled the proposal as a politically motivated attempt to divert attention from pressing issues facing the country.