Petition · Ministry of Justice
Make social class a protected characteristic under the Equality Act
Closed
392 signatures
What the petition asks
The government should amend the Equality Act 2010 and make social class a protected characteristic.
Research has shown that social class is one of the greatest influences on life chances. Class discrimination impacts upon access to postgraduate courses, recruitment and promotions in all the professions. There are also well-evidenced class pay gaps between those of equal qualifications and experience. We are concerned that the law remains silent about such discrimination, whereas it prohibits other forms of discrimination.
Timeline
| 12 Jan 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 12 Jul 2026 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
392
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
12 Jan 2026
Closed
12 Jul 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 5 Aug 2026.