James Sunderland welcomes the Government’s approach to equality that moves beyond a focus on protected characteristics and calls on the Government to never bow to those who suggest that white people should feel guilty for being white or to those who peddle the notion of white privilege as “we are all in this together”.
Equalities Policy
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
What steps she is taking to ensure that her policies take a broad approach to equality beyond a focus on protected characteristics. (910497)
The Secretary of State for International Trade (Elizabeth Truss)
I want to make sure that the equality agenda moves beyond just protected characteristics. Instead, we will make sure that we are focused on every individual in Britain having a fair chance in life and fair access to public services.
James Sunderland
I really welcome the Government’s agenda on women and equalities, and I commend my right hon. Friend for her outstanding leadership, but could I please also ask her to reassure me that we will never bow to those who suggest that white people should feel guilty for being white or to those who peddle the notion of white privilege? We are in this together, so will she please undertake today to write to other Government Departments to reinforce that?
Elizabeth Truss
Britain is one of the best places in the world to live, no matter what a person’s skin colour, sexuality, religion or anything else is. We need to be positively empowering people in Britain to succeed so that everyone has access to opportunity, and not using positive discrimination. That is the approach we are taking right across Government.