Ministry of Justice scraps public support for LGBT in diversity overhaul
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has scrubbed all mention of LGBT, gender and race from its diversity policy.
The ministry on Tuesday removed all references to 'diversity staff networks' based on characteristics and cut reference to the charity Stonewall on a page outlining department-wide equality and diversity policies on its website.
It instead promised to take an 'evidence-based approach' to equality.
Prior to being updated, the page advertised an array of diversity networks for civil servants based on characteristics including 'race, disability, gender, LGBTQI, faith, carers, job sharers, menopause, EU nationals, and parents'.
LGBTQI stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.
The old policy also said the ministry would take an active approach to 'increasing diversity representation at all levels', promising to 'develop interventions' to block any 'disproportionate outcomes'.
The MoJ has now changed the language to remove references to minority groups and scrap claims that it will actively intervene to promote diversity among its workforce.
The new policy says the department now aims to hire the 'widest possible range of geographical, social and career backgrounds'. It also states that officials are focused on 'having the best people working in MoJ', rather than increasing diversity.
All references to external benchmarks that the department has participated in, including the Stonewall 100 list of the most inclusive workplaces for LGBT employees, have also been removed.
The overhaul comes amid a backlash against diversity policies led by Donald Trump. One of his first acts on returning to the White House was to purge diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) schemes from the US government.
Mr Trump argues that DEI policies promote 'unlawful discrimination' against white people and undermine meritocracy. The US president has said the US government must set aside 'favouritism' and opt for a 'colour-blind approach' to hiring.
In Britain, former minister Esther McVey last year launched a crackdown on Whitehall diversity networks amid concerns taxpayer money was being wasted on 'woke hobby horses'.
The Civil Service spent £27m on diversity in a single year, according to an audit commissioned by the Conservatives before they left government. The internal report revealed there were 380 'equality, diversity and inclusion' (EDI) staff across Whitehall.
The report also found that £800,000 was spent on 'external benchmarking' and membership of organisations such as the controversial LGBT charity Stonewall.
An array of leading British employers have distanced themselves from Stonewall in recent years amid clashes over its transgender policies and concerns its overly proscriptive approach could stifle free speech.
The Civil Service's employee diversity networks have previously attracted controversy over claims they have been captured by politically motivated staff who use them to promote their own agendas.
John Glen, the former Cabinet Office minister, told The Telegraph last year: 'We don't want people who are paid as public servants, to be using their jobs as a vehicle for political activism.'
The MoJ update also removed all mentions of 'flexible working'. The equality and diversity policy previously said the department encouraged arrangements such as 'job-sharing, part time and other working patterns' with the aim of increasing staff wellbeing.
The Ministry of Justice was contacted for comment.
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