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New equality commission office reflects continual decline in status Equality commission loses its office, but is it losing its purpose?
(about 1 hour later)
Staff at the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Friday began moving out of the expensive glass-fronted riverside offices they have occupied since the body's creation in 2007 to smaller premises in an unfashionable concrete block, recently the subject of demolition proposals.Staff at the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Friday began moving out of the expensive glass-fronted riverside offices they have occupied since the body's creation in 2007 to smaller premises in an unfashionable concrete block, recently the subject of demolition proposals.
The radical downscaling from the More London development, next to the mayoral headquarters at City Hall, with its panoramic views of the Thames, to a building off Fleet Street, described in redevelopment plans as "an uninspiring modernist office block", echoes the shrinking power and budget of the equalities organisation.The radical downscaling from the More London development, next to the mayoral headquarters at City Hall, with its panoramic views of the Thames, to a building off Fleet Street, described in redevelopment plans as "an uninspiring modernist office block", echoes the shrinking power and budget of the equalities organisation.
Maria Miller, the culture minister who also has the women and equalities brief, told the body this month that it could expect to receive a core budget of £17m a year, a huge reduction from the £70m granted annually when it began work. A smaller board of commissioners was appointed, marking, Miller said, "the start of a new era for the EHRC". Maria Miller, the culture secretary, who also has the women and equalities brief, told the commission this month that it could expect to receive a core budget of £17m a year, a huge reduction from the £70m granted annually when it began work. A smaller board of commissioners was appointed, marking, Miller said, "the start of a new era for the EHRC".
The new offices will have desks for 207 full time members of staff, less than half the original headcount of 525, and the relocation will save £1m a year. The new offices will have desks for 207 full-time members of staff, less than half the original headcount of 525, and the relocation will save £1m a year.
Although there is broad consensus among equalities campaigners that the organisation had a difficult beginning and needed to be reformed, supporters of the institution are concerned that the huge cut to the budget reflects the government's broader impatience with the equalities agenda. Campaigners point to parallel changes to equalities legislation being debated in the Lords, which they say will both reduce the power of the EHRC and remove new obligations on public organisations to act to prevent discrimination.Although there is broad consensus among equalities campaigners that the organisation had a difficult beginning and needed to be reformed, supporters of the institution are concerned that the huge cut to the budget reflects the government's broader impatience with the equalities agenda. Campaigners point to parallel changes to equalities legislation being debated in the Lords, which they say will both reduce the power of the EHRC and remove new obligations on public organisations to act to prevent discrimination.
The office move is the latest unhappy chapter in the commission's short but troubled existence, which has characterised by persistent management problems, (the National Audit Office has questioned its accounts on three occasions), pernicious in-fighting and the sudden resignation of several commissioners after disagreements over the body's direction. The office move is the latest unhappy chapter in the commission's short but troubled existence, which has been characterised by persistent management problems, (the National Audit Office has questioned its accounts on three occasions), pernicious infighting and the sudden resignation of several commissioners after disagreements over the body's direction.
Herman Ouseley, the distinguished campaigner on racial discrimination, who has been a long term critic of the organisation, said last year it was a "tragedy" that most of the people it was set up to support would not notice if it ceased to exist. Herman Ouseley, the distinguished campaigner on racial discrimination, who has been a long-term critic of the organisation, said last year it was a "tragedy" that most of the people it was set up to support would not notice if it ceased to exist.
Several people close to the organisation suggest that there appears to be a deliberate attempt to give the reformed body a lower profile, noting that many of the new board and the new chair, Baroness Onora O'Neill, have less of a background in campaigning. Several people close to the organisation suggest that there appears to be a deliberate attempt to give the reformed body a lower profile, noting that many members of the new board and the new chair, Lady O'Neill, have less of a background in campaigning.
Miller acknowledged the change of style and said that the EHRC should avoid being a campaigning or lobbying organisation. "Of course we need impassioned lobbyists in the area of equalities but that is not the role of the EHRC, it shouldn't be leading emotive campaigns; rather its role is to be an expert witness, [and] to make recommendations on the basis of the facts" she said, in a written response to Guardian questions. Miller acknowledged the change of style and said the EHRC should avoid being a campaigning or lobbying organisation. "Of course we need impassioned lobbyists in the area of equalities but that is not the role of the EHRC. It shouldn't be leading emotive campaigns; rather its role is to be an expert witness, [and] to make recommendations on the basis of the facts," she said, in a written response to Guardian questions.
Many think that the move to a smaller, less flashy building and even the reduced budget, will be a good thing for the organisation.Many think that the move to a smaller, less flashy building and even the reduced budget, will be a good thing for the organisation.
The EHRC's chief executive, Mark Hammond also admitted that the EHRC has not worked well to date. "In the past the commission has tried to spread itself too thinly – trying to deliver work on a very wide range of issues. We haven't been as good as we should have been at prioritising our work – taking a good look at: a) what the main equality and human rights issues are facing the country; b) where we can add real value and achieve real change," he said, also in written answers. "The cut in our funding has focused us much more on taking this more evidence-based, prioritised approach," he wrote. The EHRC's chief executive, Mark Hammond, also admitted that the EHRC had not worked well to date. "In the past the commission has tried to spread itself too thinly – trying to deliver work on a very wide range of issues. We haven't been as good as we should have been at prioritising our work – taking a good look at: a) what the main equality and human rights issues are facing the country; b) where we can add real value and achieve real change," he said, also in written answers. "The cut in our funding has focused us much more on taking this more evidence-based, prioritised approach."
The Labour peer, Baroness Margaret Prosser, who was deputy to the EHRC's former chair, Trevor Philips, said: "I am quite positive that a smaller more focused body will make internal management easier to handle and will force the commission to work in partnership with other bodies. I don't think the reduced budget is the major thing to worry about." The Labour peer Lady Prosser, who was deputy to the EHRC's former chair Trevor Phillips, said: "I am quite positive that a smaller, more focused body will make internal management easier to handle and will force the commission to work in partnership with other bodies. I don't think the reduced budget is the major thing to worry about."
She was more concerned about the government's commitment to the goals that the EHRC was set up to achieve. "I don't think equalities is on the top of the government agenda; they see it as all about regulation and red tape."She was more concerned about the government's commitment to the goals that the EHRC was set up to achieve. "I don't think equalities is on the top of the government agenda; they see it as all about regulation and red tape."
Sarah Veale, the TUC's head of equality and human rights and one of the EHRC's more vocal new commissioners, agreed: "It is really worrying that the government's attitude to equality legislation is that it is an obstacle to business being able to flourish."Sarah Veale, the TUC's head of equality and human rights and one of the EHRC's more vocal new commissioners, agreed: "It is really worrying that the government's attitude to equality legislation is that it is an obstacle to business being able to flourish."
Veale is optimistic about the EHRC's future but recognised how vulnerable it had become. "We realise how close to the edge it is. It has been given a ninth life. It is probably only still there because the government realised that it had an obligation under human rights law and European law to maintain it. I wonder whether, if it wasn't for that, it would just have been wound up." Veale is optimistic about the EHRC's future but recognised how vulnerable it had become. "We realise how close to the edge it is," she said. "It has been given a ninth life. It is probably only still there because the government realised that it had an obligation under human rights law and European law to maintain it. I wonder whether, if it wasn't for that, it would just have been wound up."
The reformed EHRC will no longer have responsibility for running a discrimination advice line, because this function has been handed to the government equalities office. This office has outsourced it to a private company Sitel, which has just launched the Equality Advisory and Support Service helpline.The reformed EHRC will no longer have responsibility for running a discrimination advice line, because this function has been handed to the government equalities office. This office has outsourced it to a private company Sitel, which has just launched the Equality Advisory and Support Service helpline.
"That dislodges the EHRC from the public significantly," Neil Crowther, an independent consultant, who was previously the EHRC's director of the human rights programme and disability rights programmes, said. "That dislodges the EHRC from the public significantly," Neil Crowther, an independent consultant, who was previously the director of the EHRC's human rights programme and disability rights programmes, said.
But beyond the internal changes at the EHRC, the broader context in which it is now working was more worrying, he said. But beyond the internal changes at the EHRC, the broader context in which it was now working was more worrying, he said.
Although the bill to legalise gay marriage, and advances in the shared parental leave have been welcomed, a series of proposed changes to equality law are causing unease. The coalition has launched a review of the new Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which requires public bodies to have "due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination" and "advance equality of opportunity". The decision to review this new legislation, so soon after it came into force in April 2011, has dismayed campaigners. Doreen Lawrence, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen, has accused the coalition of turning its back on measures to ensure equality. Although the bill to legalise gay marriage, and advances in the shared parental leave have been welcomed, a series of proposed changes to equality law are causing unease. The coalition has launched a review of the new Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which requires public bodies to have "due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination" and "advance equality of opportunity". The decision to review this new legislation, so soon after it came into force in April 2011, has dismayed campaigners. Doreen Lawrence, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, has accused the coalition of turning its back on measures to ensure equality.
As part of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, the power of employment tribunals to make broader recommendations about how to address discrimination is set to be removed, and the "third party harassment" provision is likely also to go, watering down protection for employees against sexual harassment and racial discrimination at work. A broad summary of the EHRC's fundamental purpose and aims is also set to be removed from the statute books. As part of the enterprise and regulatory reform bill, the power of employment tribunals to make broader recommendations about how to address discrimination is set to be removed, and the "third-party harassment" provision is likely also to go, watering down protection for employees against sexual harassment and racial discrimination at work. A broad summary of the EHRC's fundamental purpose and aims is also set to be removed from the statute books.
"It is a very worrying time. The reforms are so big that they are quite hard to pin down and understand. If you take the reform of the EHRC and the reform or possible repeal of the PSED, we are witnessing a regression in the promotion of most human rights and equalities," Crowther said."It is a very worrying time. The reforms are so big that they are quite hard to pin down and understand. If you take the reform of the EHRC and the reform or possible repeal of the PSED, we are witnessing a regression in the promotion of most human rights and equalities," Crowther said.
Miller said that the EHRC remained well-funded. "When you account for the fact that the helpline and grants funding has been transferred and savings from back-office improvements, the EHRC could in future be spending almost as much on equalities and human rights as it did in 2010/11, despite having a much smaller budget." Miller said that the EHRC remained well-funded. "When you account for the fact that the helpline and grants funding has been transferred and savings from back-office improvements, the EHRC could in future be spending almost as much on equalities and human rights as it did in 2010/11, despite having a much smaller budget," she said.
Isabella Sankey, director of policy for the human rights organisation, Liberty, said campaigners would be closely watching the work of the new commissioners. Isabella Sankey, director of policy for the human rights organisation Liberty, said campaigners would be closely watching the work of the new commissioners.
"Sadly the turbulent infancy of the EHRC made it an easy target for government cuts. Liberty hopes that the new brooms at the commission will use their reduced resources effectively; enforcing basic human rights protections and independently holding government to account." "Sadly the turbulent infancy of the EHRC made it an easy target for government cuts," she said. "Liberty hopes that the new brooms at the commission will use their reduced resources effectively, enforcing basic human rights protections and independently holding government to account."
The EHRC's board is still finalising its business plan for the coming year, but Hammond said priorities might include "work on areas like how local authorities procure care providers, and monitor how these providers meet the human rights of the vulnerable people they look after; how organisations are performing in meeting their obligations – for example tackling hate crimes or how the new police and crime commissioners ensure they don't carry out activities which are discriminatory." The EHRC's board is still finalising its business plan for the coming year, but Hammond said priorities might include "work on areas like how local authorities procure care providers, and monitor how these providers meet the human rights of the vulnerable people they look after; how organisations are performing in meeting their obligations – for example tackling hate crimes – or how the new police and crime commissioners ensure they don't carry out activities which are discriminatory".