“Nobody should be blocked from opportunities because of the colour of their skin or the job their parents did. We should all be judged by the content of our character and not protected characteristics.”
Shadow Equalities Minister Claire Coutinho has criticised a taxpayer-funded internship programme that excludes middle-class white men from applying, arguing that opportunities should be based on merit rather than race, sex or family background.
The controversy centres on a diversity internship run by the National Audit Office (NAO), Parliament’s spending watchdog, which is advertising placements aimed at groups it says are under-represented in the accounting profession. Eligibility criteria reportedly prioritise female applicants, people of Black heritage and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Responding to the scheme, Coutinho said: “Nobody should be blocked from opportunities because of the colour of their skin or the job their parents did. We should all be judged by the content of our character and not protected characteristics.”
Her intervention adds to growing criticism of diversity initiatives that limit eligibility on the basis of protected characteristics. Critics argue that such programmes undermine the principle of equal treatment by excluding applicants who may be equally qualified but do not belong to a preferred demographic group.
The internship, based in Newcastle, offers paid work experience and exposure to public sector auditing. The NAO says the programme is intended to widen access to a profession where certain groups remain under-represented and forms part of a broader effort to attract talent from a wider range of backgrounds.
Supporters of the scheme point to provisions within the Equality Act 2010 that permit employers to take “positive action” where there is evidence of disadvantage or under-representation. Such measures can be lawful provided they are proportionate and designed to address a genuine imbalance.
However, opponents contend that restricting access to opportunities based on race or sex risks crossing the line from positive action into unfair discrimination. They argue that public bodies, in particular, should uphold principles of neutrality and equal access.
The dispute comes amid a wider national debate over diversity, equity and inclusion policies across the public sector. Similar programmes operated by government agencies and publicly funded organisations have faced scrutiny in recent years, with critics questioning whether they are consistent with the ideal that individuals should be judged on merit alone.
For Coutinho and other opponents of the scheme, the issue is straightforward. They argue that in a society committed to equality before the law, public sector opportunities should be open to all applicants regardless of ethnicity, gender or social background.
The National Audit Office maintains that its internship programme is designed to broaden participation in a sector where some groups remain under-represented and says it provides valuable experience for aspiring professionals.
