Farage must stop parroting Trump

DIVERSITY, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has been under attack from populist leaders.

- Giuseppe Bignardi

When a passenger plane recently crashed with a military helicopter in the US, President Trump immediately blamed DEI policies, despite the lack of evidence or justification. The incident was subsequently attributed to the helicopter flying too high and the helicopter's route not being safe when the airport runway is used for landings or take-offs.

Subsequently, when Nigel Farage visited Durham after his party's success in the local elections, he said that any civil servants working on DEI initiatives should "be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly".

Amanda Hopgood, the outgoing Liberal Democrat leader of Durham County Council, has described Farage’s comments as disgusting.

Firstly, politicians should not threaten civil servants, who are carrying out the tasks assigned to them. Secondly, we have legislation protecting people from discrimination (Equality Act 2010) and good DEI policies are desirable.

Getting things wrong in relation to DEI can be expensive. Birmingham City Council virtually went bankrupt when it was found liable for discrimination against women, having paid workers in female-dominated roles less than those in equivalent male-dominated ones.