Government drops duty on councils to back economic equality

The government has ditched a duty on public bodies to take into account socio-economic inequalities when designing policies.

The move was announced in a speech today by home secretary and minister for women Theresa May.

The measure was brought in under the Equality Act 2010 passed by the last government and was intended to ensure councils and other public bodies tackled class inequalities alongside those of disability, race, gender, age, sexual orientation and belief.

However, May said: “At its worst, this might have meant badly needed services directed away from some areas and directed towards others regardless of practical need.

“At its best it would have been just another bureaucratic box to tick, more time filling in forms and less time focusing on policies that will make a real difference to people’s life chances.”

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