Reform UK's plan to scrap the Equality Act could leave up to half a million pregnant women without workplace protections each year, according to new analysis. The Equality Act 2010 legally safeguards individuals, including pregnant women and new mothers, from discrimination in employment and wider society.
Charities Warn of Catastrophic Effects
Charities like Pregnant then Screwed and the Women's Budget Group warn that repealing the Act would “wipe out decades of progress” and have “catastrophic effects”. They highlight that without these protections, pregnant women and new mothers could face unfair dismissal, reduced maternity rights, and discrimination at work.
Reform's Alternative Proposal
Reform UK proposes replacing the Equality Act with a 'Workplace Fairness Act', but has not detailed what protections this new legislation would include. Critics point to a contradiction between Reform UK's pro-natalist views and their plan to remove protections that could deter women from starting families.
The analysis underscores the potential impact on maternity leave and job security, with experts warning that such a move could set back gender equality by decades. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the pledge, calling it a threat to hard-won rights.
