Equalities
We previously invited general comments on the Equality Act. To make things simpler, the measures in the Equality Act have been divided into the eight themes, and this page is now closed for comment. To comment, click here. All the comments received below will be considered in the Equalities challenge process.
The new positive action rules the govenment brought in on April 1st make this act whole heatidly rascist against the majority.
The fact that companies are now forced to provide mentoring so as to employ less suitable minorities over perfectly capable majorities means that Britain is now officially a rascist country.
I am absolutely appalled that the government have introduced “positive discrimination”. I will find against this unfair act until the day I die.
Just as black people thought long and hard against discrimination, now is the time for the white majority vote against this horrific equality act.
Keiron,
The act does not permit ‘positive discrimination’ – that’s still illegal. It does permit ‘positive action’ which is voluntary, not mandatory, and which enables employers to support under-represented groups REGARDLESS of race, gender, religion or any other personal characteristic. Suggest you look at the Act properly rather than assume the worst based on whatever you’ve read [text deleted].
Babasu please do not lie, I’ve read the equality act and it absolutely does discriminate against the majority. By calling it positive action does not change the fact that it is racial discrimination.
Babasu you are wrong, the act only protects “protected characteristics”
So if you are a white person living in a black area the act will still promote the black person via positive action.
White people are not a protected characteristic so they will always be discriminated against when positive action is used.
What this act fails to realise is white people are minorities in some areas in London, most cities also have minority populations group together living in enclaves, thus the white people living in those enclaves are minorities in comparison.
Yet, the act permits discrimination against white people by not including them as a protected characteristic, therefore the equality act is racist and flawed.
This is not “red tape”, it’s Social Progress. Please do not undo legislation which people have fought for over the years in the mistaken idea that all regulations are bad regulations.
Please do not insult your elders any further by associating us with the Equality act.
I can assure you that of my comrades that are still alive none of them agree with the equality act as it goes against everything we strived for, fairness for ALL.
How dare you.
Eric Stanley
29th Brigade
Gloucestershire Regiment
As a black disabled person (wheelchair bound) growing up in the 90′s I was expected to make my own way in life. This to me was part of the challenge of being disabled, being black wasn’t the problem, nor will it ever be for me.
However, since the equality act I now feel shunned as a “special person” who gets priority treatment, people constantly molly coddle me and its obvious white people are now afraid to interact with me incase they offend me in any way.
I recently applied for a job and one of the people in the interview room said “might aswell give up, he’s black and disabled” at which point 3 people left the room.
I did get the job but left shortly afterwards as it was clear all my collegues thought I was only employed due to special diversity treatment. I could probably even sue them under this equality act but I wouldn’t out of principle.
Yes I’m black, yes I’m disabled but I can fight inequality by working hard and being the best, the same way as a white person would. Why should people get special treatment under the equality act, it’s totally unfair and rascist, this is not south africa yet it feels like it’s going that way, unqualified people getting jobs just because they are black.
Diversity laws make me feel like an unwelcome foreigner. I wish the government would scrap diversity because before it we were all equal and now us minorities are just hated because of it.
If the government really want to improve the lives of us minorities then why not spend all this diversity money on improving run down areas where most of the minorities live. At least that way everybody benefits and not just one group.
We still away to go for fairness equality for all. Does this question the fact that government does not really believe in equality, but that equality is only for selected people in society.
The Equalities Act 2010 brings together lots of previous legislation and simplifies the issues. It is particularly important for the disabled members of our society who face discrimination at all levels. This gives them an much stronger remit to fight for their rights. I am particularly involved with adults with varying disabilities who wish to remain in or return to the workplace. The Equalities Act 2010 gives them the confidence to challenge discrimatory practises that are rife in recruitment and employment. It must be kept! Merging it with other legislation or failing to impliment it would only add to confusion.
The equalities act ensures that people are not faced with any form of persecution, in all public facets of society, especially in terms of legal rights and equal opportunities. As a gay man in my 30′s I have fought to be accepted and grew-up with constant fear of persecution, even believing in my innocence as a young man that being gay would stop me going into law or becoming a teacher, as i now am. I grew up without the protection young gay men and women now have and also without the roght to marry who I loved, our young children now have this positive future goal, if we begin breaking down policies which are there to ensure we are not discriminated againist based upon sexuality, race, religion, gender etc then we will undo the positive future hopes for our children and the true essence of a free and accepting British society.
I believe the Equality Act is unfair as it only applies to those who fall within the protected characteristic group. Therefore in order to advance one group the unprotected majority have to suffer. In some areas ethnic minorities are actually majorities anyway.
I feel that it should not be the job of the government to force employers and other bodies to employ people just because of their race. Under the equality act a traditional fish and chip shop would not be allowed to employ all white staff but an Indian resturant would. Who’s culture is the act protecting, it certainly isn’t the majorities.
I personally have seen NHS ethnic minority doctors who can’t even speak English and have to have a translator, is this the work of the equality act? I suspect so. I’ve seen jobs advertised by the local council saying “this position is for ethnic minorities only”, please tell me where the equality because I only see discrimination.
Lastly I believe the Equality act is creating a culture of “us and them” which ultimately leads to rascism, the majority are tired of being second best. There is a growing belief within the community that ethnic minorities are only in key roles because they were given a leg up under the equality act. Before the act this perception was non existent as was the “us and them” culture of today.
Inequality,
We ALL have protected characteristics – that’s the point. We all have a gender, a race, a sexual orientation, a religion or a belief or not. So everyone is covered. What you’re talking about is absolutely not the case. [text deleted]
And if you have seen adverts saying ‘for ethnic minorties only’ then the employer is in breach of the Equality Act and should be challenged. Feel free to contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission and let them know.
Easier to rely on your own assumptions though – how about protection for carers? How many people suffer because they have to look after elderly relatives, or disabled family members? They’re now protected by this Act. Is that unfair?
Dear Red Tape Challenge ?????????
Frstly, I must agree with many of the comments in the response I saw from the Sarah Spencer (CBE) Chair of Equality and Diversity Forum (EDF) , writing to David Cameron on 3rd May 2011.
I am a lay officer/representative of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working in the Department of Health dealing with equality matters amongst other areas, and also do some voluntary work in the Disability Law Service (DLS).
I agree absolutely with the assertion of the EDF that the Equality Act is not `red tape’ and sets out basic standards that enable people from all backgrounds to contribute to society, protecting people from discrimination and harassment. Equality is not “red tape” but an important objective for a civilised society.
The Conservative and Liberal Democratic Parties I believe supported the Equality Bill through Parliament when not in government, and the Coalition Government’s Programme for Government to commit to removing barriers to equal opportunities.
The Fawcett Society amongst several; other equality interest groups has also expressed its concern over the failure of the Coalition to implement the Equalities Act in full, which in terms of the gender pay gap will widen it, especially in the current economic climate.
I would have thought that following the farce of the Health and Social Care Bill, the Coalition Government would want to have a proper consultation process for voluntary and community bodies, and individual citizens to comment on detailed regulations (appar around 20,000 Regs) in an unreasonable timescale, via a website called “Red Tape Challenge”.
Equality is not a dirty word.
I will copy to Nick Clegg and Vince cable.
Yours faithfully
Steve Norton
PCS Rep.
Should not be scrape, or merged. It has been a long hard battle to get this in place and it needs to stay as it is to support those who are under represented in society.
It’s exhausting to search out knowledgeable individuals on this subject, but you sound like you understand what you’re talking about! Thanks
The Equality Act should be left as it is and implemented without delay.
The Equality Act 2010 should not be scrapped. Unfortunately, society is still very far from the enlightened, equal and fair place it needs to be and until businesses in particular understand the economic benefits of making their goods, services and employment opportunities accessible to everyone; regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion etc.; then this country will continue to lag behind other nations with a more progressive approach to equality. The basic fact remains that if we exclude any sections of society from the marketplace, we lose potential customers and employees who could be making a real difference to our economic recovery.
The Equality Act should be retained, in its own right. Any attempt to merge the issues addressed with some other existing legislation will invariably weaken the focus of both. The abandonment of the socio economic duty recognizing the impact of the income gap on the nation has already weakened focus, and the gap between top and bottom
continues to widen inexorably (see reports of latest 33% rises by top bosses, as reported toady in the press). The socio economic duty should be restorwed as a priority.
it is a sad indictement that the uk goverment had to introduce this law in the 1st place, but this was because of existing injustices and we cannot afford to rescind this legislation because unscrupulios employers will expolit any opportunities they can. if anything we need more accurate monitoring and prosecuting of perprators rather than removing than rescinding the legislation.
I think that in a society of acceptance, which Britain calls itself, the idea to scrap or merge the Equality Act is unfair and unjust. It is important for everyone to be seen as equal regardless.
It has taken years to get to a point where the law protects people from discrimination because of who they are. The law also offers redress and enables people to be able to seek employment, housing and other services on an equal footing to every other person. So the law certainly should not be scrapped nor should it be merged with other legislation or regulation.
Victims of discrimination should have easy access to help and should get quick redress for wrongs.
Until we get to a point were disabled people are not victimised, women do not fear violence in the home, older people can’t get insurance and the BNP think they have a right to target people because they are different then we shouldn’t end or water down legislation.
This should definitely stay. It is one of the most progressive pieces of legisaltion in a long time. If anything, it needs strengthening, especially in relation to the deleted socio-economic duty
Brian most of the socio-economic status people hold is attributed to centuries of hard work. Millions of people have thought and lost their lives to create the society we have today.
What gives you the right to come along and insult it and demand a free meal ticket under the equality act?
If you disagree that higher achieving individuals can earn more money than you then move to a communist country where everybody is equal, and see how you feel when you’re working 50 hours a week to support someone who can’t even be bothered to get out of bed.
The equality act is a breach of human rights, no government should be allowed to perform socio-economic manipulation on this countries inhabitants.
The Equality Act certainly should not be scrapped, as it offers a modicum of protection for the majotitydisadantaged in society from the rich elite who quite ruthlesslyprey on them. In fact the Act should be strengthened – it was wrong to scrap the part of the Act relating to economic inequality, and there should be a duty on those in power to work tirelessly to close the income gap. Many people are also unaware the the income divide is also largely a gender divide – the poor are largely women in low paid work. We need and end to occupational segregation, and to the nonsensical thinking that prescribes low pay for people involved in health and social care (ie ‘women’s work’ and not to be valued) versus setting up a successful business selling such essential items as nailvarnish or sequinned pants! Which economic activity does the government value most? It would also make more sense for economic activity to be greener, and avoid thousands of companies using up the world’s resources to compete to sell the most ‘desirable’ nailvarnish or sequinned pants.
I certainly do not think that the Equality Act of 2010 should be scrapped or merged with other regulations. It should be left as it is or even made stronger. I used to work in the filed of finding employment for diaabled people and employers quite often used to get round the provisions of the then Act.
The Equalities Act should not be scrapped. The Act is a result of much hard work to achieve dignity and respect for each member of society. It is a necessary part of the civilized society of which we are proud to belong. As it is itself a result of merging or ‘tidying up’ previous equality regulations, I do not see what would be achieved by merging or simplifying it further. The associated bureaucracy associated with the equalities act is necessary to support the purpose of the act which is to achieve a fair society, a cultural shift which will not occur without Governmental steer. I think the Act should be left as it is for now and reviewed in 10 years to assess its impact.