Reform and Equalities Act - breaking stuff

[Dietcokey]

I see in the news today that Keir Starmer is criticising Reform for wanting to 'rip up the Equalities Act'.

The thing is, I think his focus is on the wrong bit of the problem. He is concentrating on how good the Equalities Act is, which is a gift to Reform because they can just point out where it's bad.

Instead, I think that the way to beat Reform here (and in a lot of other places) is to ask what they plan to replace the Equalities Act with. What is it that they are going to actually create as opposed to just smashing stuff down?

Brexit the same, taxes the same. It's easy to point out that the EU has many flaws, or that it would be nice if we had less tax to pay, or if that annoying thing that someone is using the Equalities Act to justify went away. It's the easiest thing in the world to just say 'Oh sod it. Let's get rid of the whole bloody thing then!'. But it isn't how grown ups behave, in any walk of life.

Brexit is the obvious example. Even the most fervent Remainer could never have said that the EU was perfect. But Farage's solution of just throwing our toys out of the pram and leaving actually made things worse. It didn't actually create a better solution. Same here with the Equalities Act. We will, yet again, throw away the baby with the bathwater.

AIBU to suggest to everyone who dislikes Reform that we should be pointing things like this out way more? Stop asking Farage what he hates and start asking him what he will actually build. I bet his supporters won't like what they hear.

It's the Equality Act.

I do think journalists should be asking what reform is proposed to the act, yes.

I'm not sure if Reform voters will care though. If they think it will stop the boats or hurt marginalised people, that seems to be enough. Same with SEND reform.

Well, let's hope Rupert Lowe's party splits their vote and stops both getting in.

Which bit of The Equalities Act are they not liking ?
I’m guessing “Reasonable Adjustments” will be out the window - able bodied and disabled people shouod be treated exactly the same

“Discrimination, Harassment and Victimisation” will be gone, which will ensure that people are free to lie, and stir up hatred (unless they are doing that against Reform supporters). “Hurry Words” are only “Hurty” and not harassment, when they aren’t about you.

“Pregnancy and Maternity Rights” .. goodbye to those.. why shouod an employer have to pay you, or reserve your job, if you choose to have a baby ??? Tough luck

Want to go to the top of the housing list because of your disability ?? Tough

You can't make some of this stuff up. I heard white people complaining of racism in a majority white area the other day. (Interestingly, I checked the wording of the Equality Act 2010 and it simply states race, nationality or colour which means it does protect white people from racism in a white majority area.)

OP, I think it's a great suggestion. "Oh, so what would you suggest instead?" Is a polite way of disagreeing and showing up the silliness 😀

I also think challenging the narrative around "woke" is important - people now seem to believe that there is no racism, sexism or disability discrimination anymore and any measures to support underprivileged groups are unfair scams. I think people need to push back on this harder.

The Equality Act also outlaws discrimination against both young and old people, as well as pregnant women. Women and families do get a lot of support from the provisions.

According to Yusuf, they will simply rebrand it.

As always with Reform, style over substance.

There seems to be a perception that all the positive discrimination measures that they see as negative are sanctioned and promoted by the EA but in fact quite a few come to light because they are not legitimate discrimination. Without the EA of course there would be nothing to stop 100% discrimination against any group. There are flaws with the EA but it contains a lot of important protections for everyone. I do think the people who want to trash it should be able to explain exactly what they don’t like and how they would manage the protections that are very much needed.

People ard turning to Reform because they dont want what Labour has to offer or what the Tories have to offer. I don't either. They want something different. Doesn't seem to matter what as long as its a change.