Repeal The public sector Equality Duty (PSED) to stop positive discrimination

Rejected 17 signatures

What the petition asks

Repeal this Act to put an end to positive discrimination and allow true equality.

The Act requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities.

In real terms it is a positive discrimination charter allowing a job to be offered to a candidate, not because they are the best candidate for the job, but merely because they possess a specific protected characteristic (for example race, gender, sexual orientation, disability).

This is unlawful but the PSED Act allows it.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action.

We understand that you are concerned about positive discrimination, but it is not clear exactly what you want the Government to do.

The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public authorities to have due to regard to the need to achieve the objectives set out under s149 of the Equality Act 2010, and while this may involve treating some people more favourably than others, this is not the only purpose of the duty.

You can find out more about the Public Sector Equality Duty here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/public-sector-equality-duty

We could accept a petition calling for the Public Sector Equality Duty to be revoked, provided it did not misrepresent the purpose or requirements of this duty.

Timeline

24 Feb 2021	Petition opened for signatures
4 Mar 2021	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 17

Status Rejected

Rejected 4 Mar 2021

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