Wera: We Need an Equality Act that Works for Today’s Society

16 July 2021

On Wednesday 15th July, Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Equalities, took part in the cross-party launch of the report ‘The Equality Act 10 Years On’.

She spoke alongside Labour MPs Marcia da Cordova, David Lammy and Liam Byrne and others. A message of support for the Equality Act Review was also sent by Equalities Minister, Kemi Badenoch.

Following the report launch event, Wera said:

“It is encouraging that we have made progress since the Equality Act was passed in 2010. But one piece of positive legislation does not mean that the fight for equality is over – far from it. We have a lot of work to do in a number of important areas.

“Our challenges include closing the disability employment gap, closing the ethnicity pay gap, improving the rights of transgender people, banning so-called conversion 'therapy' targeting LGBT people, and doing better on shared parental leave and black maternal health.”

“In connection with the progress report launch, we discussed the importance of intersectionality - the way that different factors such as race, gender and class can overlap to amplify discrimination and disadvantage.

“There is a misguided view that some forms of discrimination are less significiant than others. But these easily add up over time and do tremendous damage to individuals and communities. We must redouble our efforts to tackle discrimination in all its forms.”

Wera concluded:

“It is vitally important that the Equality Act truly works for the current reality of our society as it is today in 2021. As our society changes, we must regularly assess whether the Equality Act is fit for purpose and doing its job. My thanks to everyone involved with this incisive report which will help focus our collective efforts to make further progress.”