Badenoch pledges to abolish public sector equality duty in policy shift

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is set to announce plans to abolish the public sector equality duty (PSED) in a speech on Tuesday, framing the legal requirement as a mechanism for advancing "divisive agendas" and "identity politics." The PSED, established under the Equality Act 2010, obliges public bodies to consider how they can promote equality in their day-to-day operations. Badenoch, who served as the minister for equalities between 2020 and 2022, argues the duty is currently being misused to push radical ideologies rather than ensure fairness.

The announcement is widely interpreted as a strategic move to counter the electoral challenge from Reform UK, which has pledged to scrap the Equality Act entirely. By committing to repeal only the PSED rather than the entire Act, the Conservatives aim to position themselves as a responsible alternative to both Labour and Reform. Shadow minister for equalities Claire Coutinho stated that public services should focus on safety and fairness rather than "pandering to radical ideologies," adding that diversity and inclusion training does more harm than good.

Badenoch will cite specific examples of the PSED’s alleged misuse, including the Bank of England’s decision to replace historical figures on banknotes with animals and insects, and police training practices she claims instruct officers not to treat people equally. The Bank of England has defended its note design decision as the result of a public consultation where historical figures ranked third behind nature and architecture. The controversy arises against a backdrop of heightened political tension following the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak in Southampton, where Badenoch has blamed police actions on identity politics.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has strongly defended the PSED, stating it helps public bodies make good decisions and has a positive impact on equality practice. A spokesperson for the commission noted that the duty is not a barrier to organisations doing their jobs but is there to help them design services based on an understanding of their impact on everyone affected. The commission’s new chair, who wrote her PhD thesis on the PSED, argues that evidence largely suggests it has a positive effect on equality practice in public authorities.

Badenoch’s "culture and integration commission," supported by barrister Andrew Dinsmore, will publish advice on repealing the PSED on Tuesday. This follows Badenoch’s March announcement of an overhaul of the Equality Act. The Conservatives contrast their targeted approach with Reform’s pledge to scrap the entire Act, which they claim would "open the floodgates to more DEI." While Badenoch has sought to differentiate herself from the "pure cold rage" rhetoric of Reform leader Nigel Farage, her party remains focused on reframing the debate around common sense and equality before the law.