Kemi Badenoch says Britain’s drive for diversity has backfired as report reveals inclusivity training has been ineffective despite millions spent

Kemi Badenoch has said diversity schemes have had no impact on reducing prejudice and in some cases have proven to be counterproductive.

The equalities minister said a Government-commissioned report, released today, revealed that, despite a huge amount being spent, the training has been ineffective.

‘The new report shows that, while millions are being spent on these initiatives, many popular EDI [equality, diversity and inclusion] practices – such as diversity training – have little to no tangible impact in increasing diversity or reducing prejudice, Mrs Badenoch wrote in The Daily Telegraph.

‘In fact, many practices have not only been proven to be ineffective, they have also been counterproductive.

Kemi Badenoch has said diversity schemes have had no impact on reducing prejudice and in some cases have proven to be counterproductive

The Inclusion at Work Panel says attempts to hire staff based on race or sex may be unlawful positive discrimination (Stock Image)

‘No group should ever be worse off because of companies’ diversity policies – whether that be black women or white men.’

The Inclusion at Work Panel urges firms to scrap diversity schemes. It says attempts to hire staff based on race or sex may be unlawful positive discrimination, such as when a police force rejected a potential recruit as he was white.

The report also says ‘diversity of thought’ is important and encourages the Equality and Human Rights Commission watchdog to educate employers on the implications of tribunal rulings that guarantee the right to express beliefs critical of woke gender ideology.

Managers interviewed for the project feared they would be ‘cancelled’ or taken to court if they did not carry out visible diversity schemes. It comes after it emerged councils have almost doubled spending on EDI roles to £52million.