Overview
- Suella Braverman, newly appointed as Reform UK's education and equalities lead, vowed to repeal the Equality Act on day one of a Reform government and to abolish the equalities department and minister.
- Braverman also pledged to ban social and gender transitioning in all schools, positioning transgender policy in education as a central dividing line.
- Nigel Farage claimed middle-aged white men are losing jobs because of the Equality Act, a claim contradicted by ONS data showing lower unemployment rates for white people than for many minority ethnic groups.
- Responding to criticism, Reform spokesman Robert Jenrick said he did not believe anybody had benefited from the 2010 Act and pointed to earlier anti-discrimination laws as sufficient.
- Unions and campaign groups condemned the proposals, with the TUC warning repeal would legalise discrimination against protected groups and the Good Law Project accusing Reform of courting bigotry.