Sunak would amend the Equality Act

[achillestoes]

Rishi Sunak has been trailing Liz Truss in the Tory leadership battle, and he is now trying to re-invent himself a bit. He has strengthened his positions on sex in the Equality Act meaning biological sex, and specifically said the following about the EA:

“The worst offender in this regard is the 2010 Equality Act, conceived in the dog days of the last Labour government.
“It has been a Trojan horse that has allowed every kind of woke nonsense to permeate public life.”

There is a suggestion that he would ‘review’ the Equality Act. Not sure whether that means he would amend it or repeal it, but obviously we would still have the GRA, which without the Equality Act to alter its meaning, even if slightly, would give the TRAs a boost.

Well, I found it grossly offensive as an immigrant myself, but there you go.

I meant as in it brings together decades of anti-discrimination legislation, the Race Relations Act, Disability Discrimination Act etc, as opposed to just being something completely new that was dreamt up in 2010. I agree that the gender reassignment section is badly worded, but I think we need to be very cautious of right wing politicians who want to review the Act in its entirety.

People finding a male politician, whatever his race, more palatable than a female one?

Surely not.

Completely agree. Maya won her case on the basis of the EA2010. It's also the legislation that stops our employers from legally firing us when we're pregnant and gives us recourse if they do. It's not all bad!

Quite. The problem is, in a general election, he'll probably be up against a white feller. The fact that they prefer him to Truss is not really indicative of anything that matters

People finding a male politician, whatever his race, more palatable than a female one?

Surely not.

There is that of course PotholesofPurgatory.

The fact that they prefer him to Truss is not really indicative of anything that matters

Really?

Maya won her case on the basis of the EA2010.

Only after getting her views protected as WORIADS.

Really

Are you going to retract your allegation of racism against me?

But it's hard to see some voters in the former red wall seats ever voting for sunak. I grew up in a comparable area and there's still a lot of tension and casual racism under the surface, and I think many would struggle with the cognitive dissonance

Happy to have them vote for Labour are you @thedancingbear ?

Actually, I could see him winning over Starmer as well.

The point is not "ooh, Sunak only wins because male" but that you are looking at his electoral prospects through a very narrow lens.

But she had to fund a very expensive court case to get there, she raised far money money than most of us could. Knowing that the law is on side if you can afford it, isnt much use.

I have not alleged racism against you @thedancingbear, you are alleging racism against people in the Red Wall areas and Conservative voters, even though that is not borne out when those voters have been asked who they would vote for.

Not particularly at the moment.

Are you going to withdraw your allegation of racism against me?

If this quote upthread from flyingbuttress42 from the Telegraph article is accurate then I'd have no problem with a review of the Equality Act.

My Government would review the Act to ensure we keep legitimate protections while stopping mission creep.
Our laws must protect free speech, block biological men from competing in women's sport and ensure that children are allowed to be children."
He has pledged to produce clear guidance explaining sex in the Equality Act means biological sex and self-identification does not carry any weight in law

I'd have preferred if if labour had recognised the problems and suggested changes but they're made it clear that child safeguarding and women's rights are of no interest to them in this area.
Any comment from them re the GIDs scandal? Tumbleweed no doubt.

Just let's be thankful that Penny Mordaunt didn't make the last two.

Why don't you just call her, um what was that charming phrase you used at 11:08am?

Ah yes, "arseholes and racists".

I said then that if anyone responded in kind, you'd claim they were the ones in the wrong. I feel rather like Cassandra now.

@MrsOvertonsWindow and yes, complete silence from both Labour and the Lib Dems re GIDS. I would like to hope this might deter the gender self id act being debated in Scotland but Sturgeon seemed determined to see that one through, regardless of any opposition

Yes, when they've been asked whether they'd rather vote for an asian man, or a woman, they've sided marginally with the asian man. Given misogyny is a huge problem, we can hardly draw the inference that they are not racist, can we?

I can assure you that I know these places all too well. There is still an awful lot of deep-seated racism.

Why would I do that? She is neither, as far as I know?

You honestly don't think Sunak knows what kind of vote he is trying to attract when he starts bemoaning 'woke nonsense'? Because I can tell you now, the people in the seats the tories need to win an election don't mainly associate 'woke' with gender issues. It will be mainly issues around ethnicity and sexuality.

It's shows a staggering lack of perspective to accuse people of bigotry and then claim that racism and sexism is so wide spread in a geographical area of the UK,that they would not vote for a woman or someone from an ethnic minority.

@thedancingbear You suggest 'some voters in the former red wall seats' who rail against 'woke nonsense' are racists unlikely to ever vote for 'dark-skinned' man.

You may be right. But to suggest that most people who are sick of what has been allowed to take place are racist bigots is entirely unacceptable.

Describing what has happened as a 'woke nonsense' is unhelpful, but you're the one who brought race into this conversation.

Why would you do that? We're discussing women's rights on this thread, they apply to ALL women

@thedancingbear 'You honestly don't think Sunak knows what kind of vote he is trying to attract when he starts bemoaning 'woke nonsense'? Because I can tell you now, the people in the seats the tories need to win an election don't mainly associate 'woke' with gender issues. It will be mainly issues around ethnicity and sexuality.'

Well that's a lot of baseless assumptions all in one. Any proof?

I'm sorry, I disagree. I think there are still major problems with racist attitudes in large parts of the UK. Are you suggesting that this is not the case? That racism has been solved?

if not, then how on earth are we meant to discuss the subject?

Do you not think there are many people in the UK - mostly men - who would be less likely vote for a woman PM? Is that bigoted? Really?

Do you not think there are many people in the UK - mostly men - who would be less likely vote for a woman PM? Is that bigoted? Really?

A point I am honestly convinced had not occurred to you until this thread. Having had it spoonfed to you, you are now going to lecture feminists on the existence of misogyny.

What a thrilling Saturday.