Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch takes aim at equality initiatives [Video]

Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch has hit out at ‘divisive’ equality initiatives and encouraged businesses to stay out of politics and activism.

UK business secretary Badenoch, who also serves as the minister for equalities and women, said there is a “creeping – and counter-productive – politicisation” of business, and that diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives “divide, rather than unify.”

The politician’s comments come in the wake of a report from the right-wing think tank Policy Exchange, which suggested that the British public think businesses are too concerned about political activism.

A Deltapoll survey for the think tank revealed that 50 per cent of people agree that businesses have become “too concerned with taking political positions on contested issues,” with only 14 per cent disagreeing.

The polling also found that 75 per cent of people surveyed believe companies should prioritise hiring on merit, regardless of race or gender, rather than to create a diverse team.

Policy Exchange’s Politicising Business …