Starmer Condemns Reform UK's 'Shocking' Proposal to Scrap Equalities Act
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched a scathing attack on Reform UK's plans to repeal the Equalities Act, branding the proposal as "shocking" and fundamentally un-British. In a pre-recorded interview with BBC Breakfast, Starmer argued that the legislation represents core British values and provides essential protections that have been fought for over decades.
Warning Against Rolling Back Women's Rights
Starmer expressed particular concern about the impact on women's rights, warning that Reform UK's policy would effectively "send women back to the old days" when they were not treated as equals to men. He emphasized that the principle of gender equality is central to British identity and should not be compromised.
"This is decades of protection, it goes to basic values," Starmer told presenter Naga Munchetty. "One of which is should women be treated as equal as men. That is core. That is British. That is something that was fought for and for Reform to say no more, under them we are to go back to old days when women not treated equally... I shudder to think what women think of anyone who wants to rip up that proposition."
Broader Implications for Minority Protections
The Prime Minister highlighted that the Equalities Act also safeguards individuals against racial discrimination, drawing parallels to historical injustices. He referenced past practices where landlords displayed signs excluding people based on race, underscoring how the legislation has transformed British society.
"I believe passionately to be tolerant, compassionate and diverse is what it is to be British," Starmer asserted. "[Reform's plan] tears it up, I would genuinely like to see anyone from Reform defend the proposition that women should be treated differently."
Braverman's Controversial Appointment
Starmer's comments come after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage appointed former Home Secretary Suella Braverman as the party's spokesperson for education, skills and equalities. At a press conference announcing Reform's "shadow cabinet," Braverman declared she would abolish her own equalities brief and repeal the Equality Act on her first day in government.
This appointment has sparked significant controversy, given Braverman's history of contentious statements on equality issues during her time in Conservative government.
Call for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Cooperate with Authorities
In the same wide-ranging interview, Starmer addressed the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, urging Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to speak with authorities in both the UK and US. The Prime Minister stressed that anyone with relevant information has a duty to come forward, particularly in cases involving violence against women and girls.
"Anybody who has any information should testify," Starmer stated. "So whether it's Andrew or anybody else, anybody who has got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is... Anybody who has got information relating to any aspect of violence against women and girls has, in my view, a duty to come forward, whoever they are."
He reinforced the principle that everyone is equal under the law and nobody is above it, describing this as a long-standing and crucial foundation of British society.
Defense of Local Election Decision
Starmer also defended his government's recent reversal on postponing local elections in 30 authorities. The Prime Minister explained that he had followed legal advice which ultimately led to the decision to abandon the delay and reinstate the elections scheduled for May.
This U-turn represents a significant policy shift that has drawn both criticism and support from various political quarters.
The Broader Political Context
Starmer's forceful defense of the Equalities Act comes at a time when Reform UK is gaining political traction, particularly on issues of immigration and cultural values. The Prime Minister's comments position the protection of equality legislation as a fundamental dividing line between mainstream British values and what he characterizes as Reform's regressive agenda.
The debate over the Equalities Act is likely to intensify as the political landscape evolves, with Starmer clearly establishing his government's commitment to maintaining and strengthening protections for women, ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable groups.
