Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for the scrapping of the public sector equality duty, a legal requirement that forces public bodies to actively promote equality and eliminate discrimination. Badenoch argues the rules have rendered public institutions "institutionally incompetent" by diverting resources away from core service delivery.
The equality duty, established under the 2010 Equality Act, mandates that public authorities including schools, hospitals, councils, and police forces consider how their policies affect people with protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. Badenoch contends these compliance obligations consume excessive time and funding that should address fundamental service failures.
Her position represents a hardline shift within Conservative leadership. The party has increasingly challenged what it terms "woke" governance frameworks, positioning the equality duty as bureaucratic overreach rather than necessary safeguard. Badenoch frames the issue as a practical problem damaging institutional effectiveness rather than purely an ideological stance.
The comments land amid broader Conservative messaging about reducing state inefficiency and cutting red tape. However, the proposal faces significant pushback from civil rights organizations, equality campaigners, and opposition parties who view the duty as foundational protection against institutional discrimination.
The equality duty has survived multiple reviews and reform attempts since 2010. Legal experts note removing it entirely would weaken protections for vulnerable groups across public services, while supporters argue enforcement has become bloated with paperwork rather than meaningful equity outcomes.
Badenoch's intervention signals the Conservative Party intends to make public sector accountability and efficiency central campaign issues, contrasting their approach with Labour's emphasis on expanding equality frameworks. The statement also reflects internal party consensus that equality legislation represents bureaucratic excess worth challenging before the next general election.