Kemi Badenoch: Public authorities must lead in fight against prejudice

Kemi Badenoch, the government’s minister for women and equalities, has put down a marker to public authorities about reducing prejudice — particularly relating to antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias.

In a toughly worded letter to public sector bodies, Badenoch says they must provide “leadership in reducing prejudice and increasing understanding”.

Noting Metropolitan Police figures of a 1,350 percent rise in antisemitic hate crime in October, and a 140 per cent spike in Islamophobia, the minister has spelled out the provisions of the Equality Act and what are the obligations of public authorities.

She writes: “Given the recent hostility towards the Jewish community and rise of anti-Muslim hatred, it is particularly important that public authorities take their duty to have due regard to the need to foster good relations seriously. Now more than ever, we need to see public authorities providing leadership in reducing prejudice and increasing understanding between different groups of people.”

Badenoch adds: “I wish to make it entirely clear that public authorities must provide leadership and remain steadfast in maintaining the legal obligations in the Act. The Act provides protection against discrimination, harassment, victimisation and unfair treatment associated with any of the protected characteristics it covers.”

Under the Equality Act, public authorities are required to have due regard to fostering good relations between different groups.

The Metropolitan Police reported that between October 1-18 there had been a 1350 per cent increase in hate crimes against Jewish people and Islamophobic offences in London were up 140 per cent, over the same period. Last week police in West Yorkshire said that they had recorded 43 antisemitic incidents in the county in October, the month the conflict began, seven times higher than average.