Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is set to announce plans to remove the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), arguing that it has encouraged identity politics and distracted public bodies from their core responsibilities.
Speaking in Westminster on Tuesday morning, Mrs Badenoch is expected to outline proposals to repeal the duty while retaining the wider Equality Act 2010. The Conservatives say the move would help restore the principle that everyone should be treated equally under the law, regardless of their background.
The Public Sector Equality Duty currently requires public bodies to consider how their decisions affect people with protected characteristics, including race, sex, disability, religion and sexual orientation. Critics argue that the duty has expanded far beyond its original purpose and has encouraged bureaucratic decision-making focused on group identity rather than individual circumstances.
Mrs Badenoch is expected to argue that the duty has become a source of legal uncertainty for public bodies and has led to decisions that many members of the public view as unreasonable.
In her speech, she is expected to cite examples where equality considerations have become entangled with operational and public safety decisions, raising concerns about whether public institutions are always prioritising their primary responsibilities.
The announcement comes amid continuing public debate following the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton in December 2025.
Body-worn camera footage released during subsequent investigations showed police officers initially handcuffing Mr Nowak after allegations of racial abuse were made by his attacker, Vickrum Digwa. Digwa was later convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.
The case prompted widespread discussion about police guidance relating to race and the handling of allegations involving protected characteristics. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has since confirmed it is reviewing guidance relating to equality outcomes and operational decision-making.
Conservatives argue that public services perform best when they focus on their core missions rather than attempting to engineer social outcomes.
Party officials say police officers should be focused on preventing and solving crime, healthcare professionals on treating patients, and public servants on delivering efficient services to taxpayers.
The party also argues that the growth of diversity, equity and inclusion programmes across public institutions has created additional layers of administration and compliance without always delivering measurable benefits.
Mrs Badenoch’s proposal forms part of a broader Conservative effort to challenge what the party describes as identity-based policymaking within public institutions.
Supporters of the reform argue that equality before the law has long been one of Britain’s most important democratic principles and that public confidence is strengthened when institutions treat individuals according to their actions and circumstances rather than their membership of particular groups.
The Conservatives stress that they are not proposing to repeal the Equality Act itself. Instead, they say they want to remove what they view as a burdensome legal duty while maintaining protections against discrimination.
Mrs Badenoch is expected to tell supporters that public services should return to focusing on fairness, competence and equal treatment for all citizens.
The speech is likely to form a key part of the Conservative Party’s developing policy agenda as it seeks to rebuild support and present an alternative vision for the future direction of public services and government.
