Badenoch Calls for Scrapping Legal Equality Duty in Public Services

Published: 9 June 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said that the legal duty requiring public services to consider equality impacts in decision-making should be scrapped, arguing that it has become overly bureaucratic and ineffective.

The equality duty, which places obligations on public bodies to consider how their policies affect different groups, has been a longstanding feature of UK public sector governance.

Badenoch said the framework has expanded beyond its original intent and now creates administrative burdens that slow down decision-making across government departments and local authorities.

She argued that public services should focus more directly on delivering outcomes rather than complying with what she described as excessive procedural requirements.

Supporters of the existing duty say it plays a crucial role in preventing discrimination and ensuring that policy decisions do not disproportionately disadvantage protected groups.

Equality law experts have warned that removing or weakening the duty could reduce transparency in how public bodies assess the impact of major policy changes.

Opposition politicians and campaign groups are expected to challenge the proposal, arguing that it risks undermining legal safeguards that have been embedded in public administration for years.

Government sources said any potential reforms would require careful review and extensive consultation with legal and institutional stakeholders.

Public sector leaders are reportedly divided, with some agreeing that processes have become overly complex while others caution against weakening accountability mechanisms.

The debate comes amid broader discussions about civil service reform, regulatory simplification and the balance between efficiency and legal oversight in government decision-making.