A Prime Minister

We dont need equality impact assessments bc 'smart ppl in Whitehall' wd never deliberately create inequalities

(then came Windrush)

An Equalities Minister

We don't need equality impact assessments on Covid-19 bc publishing them would have a 'chilling effect'

The public sector duty emerged from 2000 race relations amendment act, which was a wider govt response to the institutional racism & policy failings identified in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report

It remains a necessary tool, but has instead been weakened & called 'red tape'

Empirically & morally racism, sexism, disablism are amg most serious constraints on ppl's liberty - where to live, work, educate children

Being instead focused on how measures to address these unfreedoms are the major problem doesnt suggest a principled commitment to liberty