Labour accuses Badenoch of wanting to ‘turn clock back’ with plan to scrap public sector equality duty – UK politics live

Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, was on the interview round for the government this morning. She said getting rid of the public sector equality duty would “turn the clock back”. She told Sky News:

double quotation markWhat [Badenoch is] saying is she wants to repeal a duty which stops pregnant women being sacked, women on maternity leave being sacked, which prevents discrimination against disabled people, which prevents discrimination on age grounds. You know, people thinking, ‘Oh, you’re too old for this job, despite all of your experience’.

That’s not common-sense middle ground. It’s turning the clock back to the past.

So, she needs to spell out which elements of that she’s going to withdraw, which I think are really, really important.

Because, look, our public services and our companies need to draw on all of the talents of the British people if they’re going to succeed, that is what the public sector equality duty is all about.

Here is the agenda for the day.

9.30am: Keir Starmer chairs cabinet.

10am: Kemi Badenoch gives a speech on Conservative plans to overhaul the Equality Act.

Morning: David Lammy, the justice secretary and deputy PM, is unveiling plans to use AI in court services.

11.30am: James Murray, the new health secretary, takes questions in the Commons.

Noon: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.

2.30pm: Mary-Ann Stephenson, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Committee, gives evidence to the Commons women and equalities committee.

3.15pm: Alex Norris, the minister for border security and asylum, gives evidence to the Commons home affairs committee about asylum accommodation.

3.30pm: John Healey, the defence secretary, gives a speech to the GMB conference.

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