Osborne’s Budget may have breached equality law – The Independent

Posted August 26th, 2010 in budgets, equality, news by sally

“The Equality and Human Rights Commission may take action against the Treasury for not meeting its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 to consider the impact on specific groups before announcing its plans in the emergency Budget in June.”

Full story

The Independent, 26th August 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Private law firms letting down the side on diversity – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2010 in equality, law firms, legal profession, news by sally

“The UK’s legal profession continues to drag its feet in ensuring the same opportunities for all regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Coalition to stick with Labour’s Equality Act – BBC News

“The government is pressing ahead with Labour legislation which could require employers to disclose whether they pay women as much as men.”

Full story

BBC News, 2nd July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government reinstates Equality Act timetable – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 23rd, 2010 in equality, legislation, news by sally

“Last week we reported that the Government Equality Office had withdrawn the published timetable for implementing the Equality Act.

Now the GEO has reinstated the original timetable, saying that ‘the Government Equalities Office continues to work on the basis of the previously announced timetable, which envisaged commencement of the Act’s core provisions in October 2010’.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 23rd June 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Government shelves Equality Act timetable – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 18th, 2010 in equality, legislation, news by sally

“The Government Equality Office (GEO) has withdrawn the timetable that detailed which parts of the recently passed Equality Act would come into force when. Some elements were due to come into force in October.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th June 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Lawyers reject calls for Christian-sensitive judges – The Guardian

Posted April 16th, 2010 in Church of England, equality, judiciary, news by sally

“Attempts to have religious rights cases heard by hand-picked judges would set a dangerous precedent, lawyers said, amid mounting unrest about legal clashes between religious representatives and equality rights campaigners.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Equality Act 2010

Posted April 12th, 2010 in equality, legislation by sally

Equality Act 2010 published

Full text of Act (PDF)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Equality Bill makes Britain’s web accessibility law harder to access – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 19th, 2010 in bills, disability discrimination, equality, internet, news by sally

“OPINION: The UK’s law on web accessibility is being re-written in an apparent attempt to make it impenetrable. But even though algebra has replaced plain English, the duty to make information accessible to disabled people survives, thanks to a blind peer.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 19th March 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Vegans should be protected from discrimination, says equality watchdog – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 8th, 2010 in belief discrimination, bills, equality, news, veganism by sally

“Vegans and atheists should have the same protection against discrimination as religious groups according to guidance on new equality laws proposed by Harriet Harman.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th March 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cost and class raise barriers to legal aid lawyer careers – The Guardian

Posted March 1st, 2010 in equality, legal aid, legal education, legal profession, news by sally

“The lack of social mobility in the legal sector has reached critical levels, according to a report published today, with aspiring lawyers from less privileged backgrounds struggling to work in key areas of law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Solicitors ‘key’ to increasing judicial diversity – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 25th, 2010 in equality, judiciary, law firms, news, reports, solicitors by sally

“Persuading more solicitors to apply for judicial posts is ‘absolutely key’ to increasing diversity in the judiciary, the chairwoman of the Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity told the Gazette this week, as the panel published a raft of recommendations aimed at improving diversity on the bench.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th February 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judges’ lack of diversity harms court system, report warns – The Guardian

Posted February 25th, 2010 in equality, judiciary, news, reports by sally

“The lack of diversity among judges is affecting the experience of people who use the courts and limiting judicial perspectives on critical legal issues, according to a report published today (24 February).”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Equality watchdog faces multiple sexism accusations – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2010 in equality, news, race discrimination, sex discrimination, tribunals by sally

“The government’s equalities watchdog, set up to promote human rights and tackle discrimination, has been the ­subject of 15 employment tribunals in which it has been accused of ­sexism, racism and ­discriminating against pregnant women, according to the latest figures.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Trevor Phillips accused of trying to influence equalities watchdog inquiry – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2010 in equality, human rights, inquiries, news, parliament by sally

“Trevor Phillips, the head of the equalities watchdog, was today accused of attempting to influence an official inquiry into his work and may face a high-level investigation into allegations that his actions amount to contempt of both houses of parliament.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Discrimination law change is dropped after Pope’s opposition – The Independent

“The Government will not push through proposals that churches argue would restrict their ability to deny jobs to gay people and transsexuals, Equality Minister Harriet Harman confirmed today.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th February 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Big Question: What is equality legislation, and why is the Pope so concerned about it? – The Independent

Posted February 3rd, 2010 in bills, equality, homosexuality, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

“Why are we asking this now?

The Pope has made an extraordinary intervention into British politics by urging Catholics to oppose the Equality Bill going through Parliament. The Bill has finished its passage through the House of Commons, and was being fiercely debated in the House of Lords last week, with religious groups lined up on both sides of the argument, and may become the cause of a stand-off between MPs and peers.”

Full story

The Independent, 3rd February 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Consultations open on Equality Bill codes of practice – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 29th, 2010 in bills, consultations, equality, news by sally

“The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has begun its consultation process on proposed codes of practice relating to new planned equality legislation.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 29th January 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Equality Commission calls for over-65s to keep working – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2010 in age discrimination, employment, equality, news, retirement by sally

“People should be allowed to work beyond the age of 65 and with more flexible hours, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government defeated three times over church gay plan – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2010 in bills, Church of England, equality, homosexuality, news by sally

“The government has suffered three House of Lords defeats over moves churches said would prevent them denying jobs to gay people and transsexuals.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Equality bill: churches and campaigners demand clarity on religion’s exemption – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2010 in bills, Church of England, equality, news by sally

“The government is facing allegations of duplicity over changes to the equality bill after a leaked document showed conflicting statements about the position of churches and other religious organisations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk