Keir Starmer’s equality law revamp declares ‘war on middle class’

Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has been accused of waging “war on the middle class” for plotting to impose “socio-economic duties” on public sector bodies. Labour could prioritise benefits claimants and deprived families for taxpayer-funded services under the plans, with statutory guidance reportedly being drawn up in a bid to tackle societal inequality. The Conservatives warned that the policy could neglect Britain’s middle classes, leading to discrimination over NHS appointments, school places and police resources.

Alex Burghart, shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “Every government department will weigh every single decision based not on what’s right or fair but on whether it brings about Labour’s left-wing fantasties. Schools, hospitals, the police – all will be subject to this duty.”

He added: “This will stifle what is already an overly bureaucratic government machine – and lead to terrible outcomes for the British people.

“We need to break the chokehold of slow, risk-averse decision-making across government, but Labour are tightening it.”

Mr Burghart also accused the Prime Minister of “unabashed class warfare targeting the middle class” according to The Telegraph.

The “socio-economic duty” was introduced by former deputy Labour leader Baroness Harman as part of the Equality Act in 2010.

It included a clause requiring public bodies to “have due regard to the desirability of exercising [functions] in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage”.

The clause was scrapped by the Conservative Government just months later, with then-Home Secretary Theresa May denouncing it as “ridiculous”.

Labour ended a consultation into the policy’s implementation last June; however, with new statutory guidance in the process of being drawn up, reports suggest.

Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said: “Labour have returned to an old idea. They plan to impose socialism on every decision made by every public body in the land.

“With a single change in the law. They have learned nothing and will ruin everything.”

A Government spokesperson said the claims were “untrue nonsense” and that they were “committed to ensuring everyone, regardless of background, can thrive”.

They added that the “socio-economic duty”, as laid out in Section 1 of the Equality Act, would “level up opportunities for all”.

“Following a call for evidence in 2025 on equality law, we are now working towards commencement of the duty,” they said. “This will include drafting statutory guidance to clarify how the duty can be applied effectively.”