Equality Act disability guidance comes into force – OUT-LAW.com

“Government guidance on factors which should be taken into account when deciding whether someone has a disability is now in force.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 3rd May 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Equality Act will pressure authorities to listen – Law Society’s Gazette

“Passed in the final days of the last government, the Equality Act 2010 (EA) is largely a consolidating measure.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 28th April 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Attorney General: keynote speech to Minority Lawyers’ Conference – Attorney General’s Office

“Opening the 2011 conference at the Law Society in London, the Attorney spoke of the coming challenges and opportunities for lawyers.”

Full speech

Attorney General’s Office, 9th April 2011

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Background: the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 – Daily Telegraph

“A short guide to the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, which have allowed a man’s views on foxhunting to be placed on a par with religious belief.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th March 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bar leaders warn of impact of tuition hikes on diversity – Legal Week

“Leading figures at the Bar including former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, Bar council chairman Nicholas Green QC and chair of the Bar Standards Board Baroness Ruth Deech have called for the Bar to take action to improve diversity in anticipation of hikes in university tuition fees.”

Full story

Legal Week, 24th February 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

New Push for LGB and T equality will allow civil partnerships in religious buildings – Home Office

“As part of its commitment to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGB and T) people, the government will today announce that religious buildings will be allowed to host civil partnership registrations.”

Full press release

Home Office, 17th February 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Keir Starmer QC’s speech on Equality and Diversity – Bar Standards Board

“Did you miss our conference on our proposals for new Equality and Diversity Conduct and Practising rules? If so, find out what Keir Starmer QC had to say.”

Full speech

Bar Standards Board, 16th February 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

The Public Sector Equality Duty – Speech by Mr. Justice Sales

“Mr. Justice Sales gave a lecture for ELBA and ALBA on 13th December 2010.”

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 13th December 2010

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Government will introduce right to employ based on race and gender – OUT-LAW.com

“The Government has said that it will allow organisations to choose job candidates on the basis of their gender, race or disability in limited circumstances.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 10th December 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Fawcett Society loses court challenge to legality of budget – The Guardian

“The Fawcett Society has been refused permission to challenge the legality of the government’s emergency budget.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High court judge to rule if coalition’s budget is biased against women – The Guardian

“A high court challenge aimed at overturning the government’s emergency, summer budget is due to be heard today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government says it will not introduce Equality Act’s ‘socio-economic duty’ – OUT-LAW.com

“The Government will not bring into force a part of the Equality Act making public bodies proactively tackle social and economic disadvantage, Home Secretary Theresa May has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 29th November 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Disability equality forty years on – BBC News

“Forty years after the first Disability Act was introduced, a new BBC survey has shown that people with disabilities still face discrimination.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

George Osborne to be investigated by watchdog over cuts – The Guardian

“Equality commission set to launch formal assessment into the Treasury’s conduct prior to last month’s spending review.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Respond to our equality and diversity consultation – Bar Standards Board

“The Bar Standards Board has issued a consultation on the revision of its equality and diversity rules.”

Full consultation

Bar Standards Board, 18th November 2010

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Theresa May axes Harman’s Law – Daily Telegraph

“A legal duty forcing public bodies to help reduce inequality caused by class disadvantage is to be scrapped.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th November 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Public bodies face compliance dilemma with Equality Act’s demands – OUT-LAW.com

“Most of the Equality Act came into force earlier this month. One key part, though, will not take effect until April. The trouble is that it could impose a huge obligation on organisations and give them almost no time to meet its demands.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 26th October 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

The Fawcett Society takes the cuts to court – The Guardian

“When feminist campaigners saw a palpable threat to women in the coalition government’s spending plans, with the help of Yvette Cooper’s calculations they launched the first ever legal challenge to the budget.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Equality Act Codes of Practice published – OUT-LAW.com

“The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published the statutory guidance that will help employers, lawyers and courts to interpret the Equality Act. Three Codes of Practice were laid before Parliament last week.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 18th October 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Bar regulator introduces monitoring scheme – Bar Standards Board

“The BSB is launching a scheme to monitor all chambers and sole practitioners. This is following a successful pilot scheme that took place in 2008.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 18th October 2010

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

The case for diversity: legal profession’s white, male legacy persists – The Guardian

“This week saw the release of the Equality and Human Rights Commission report entitled How Fair is Britain. Today (13 October), at a high-level conference at Westminster University, original research examining structural inequalities in the legal services sector [pdf] will be unveiled.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Equality Act will spark a ‘wave’ of work claims – The Lawyer

“Lawyers predict that he implementation of the Equality Act will lead to a rise in employment disputes as they take to the courts to test the boundaries of the legislation.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 11th October 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Legal profession ‘inherently masculine’, says report for LSB – Law Society’s Gazette

“Stereotyping and bias are preventing women and black and minority ethnic (BME) solicitors from furthering their careers, a report funded by the Legal Services Board has found.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Courts will ‘struggle to cope’ with Equality Act caseload – Law Society’s Gazette

“Employment lawyers have warned that tribunals could be ‘submerged’ by a surge in cases stemming from the Equality Act 2010, which came into force this month.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Attorney general eases up on bar diversity stats – The Lawyer

“The attorney general’s office has dropped demands on bar members of the Treasury Solicitor Panel of Counsel to disclose equality and diversity credentials.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 4th October 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Equality law rendered ‘toothless’ by coalition review – The Guardian

“The Equality Act has been rendered ‘virtually toothless’ by the government’s admission that only part of the legislation will be implemented when it comes into effect tomorrow, according to campaigners.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

Do you know the hidden agenda of the Equality Bill? – OUT-LAW.com

“OPINION: Employment lawyers and HR professionals would be well advised to keep a close eye on the progress of the Equality Bill, currently being debated in the House of Lords. Initially intended as a legislative sweep-up, it now proposes major policy changes.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 21st January 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

UK ‘failing to protect workers from discrimination’, claims Europe – The Guardian

“The government faces legal action for failing to protect people from discrimination at work, throwing doubt on any proposals for a new law on equality.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th December 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK equality laws fall short of EU requirements, says Commission – OUT-LAW.com

“The UK’s equality laws are inadequate, according to the European Commission which has announced that it has begun legal action against the UK. The Government claims that new equality legislation will settle the dispute.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 25th November 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Government response to Equality and Human Rights Commission human rights inquiry – Ministry of Justice

“The government’s response to the recommendations of the Equality and Human Rights Commission human rights inquiry.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 4th November 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Equality bill takes aim at ‘institutional ageism’ in NHS – The Guardian

“Ageism within the NHS and social care is set to be made illegal after a review of the treatment of older people found discrimination was ‘rooted’  in the attitudes of staff and organisations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Foster Wheeler Ltd v Hanley and others – WLR Daily

Foster Wheeler Ltd v Hanley and others [2009] EWCA Civ 651; [2009] WLR (D) 235

“The court considered the principles to be applied by pension scheme trustees when deciding how UK pension schemes were to pay benefits to members following recent developments in European pensions law relating to equalisation of retirement ages.”

WLR Daily, 9th July 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Equality watchdog faces discrimination lawsuit from pregnant employee – The Guardian

“The government’s equality watchdog, set up to combat all forms of prejudice at work, faces a sex discrimination lawsuit this week from a female member of its own staff.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law ‘will force churches to employ gay staff’ – Daily Telegraph

“Churches will be banned from turning down gay job applicants on the grounds of their sexuality under new anti-discrimination laws, a Government minister said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th May 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Equality Bill u-turn could damage businesses, warns expert – OUT-LAW.com

“The Government has published its proposals for new equality legislation and one employment law expert has warned that a policy u-turn could leave companies exposed to a deluge of equal pay claims.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 30th April 2009

Source: www.out-law.com