MP Letter: Equality laws

End religious exemptions in equality law

Ask your MP to support our recommendations to end religious exemptions in the Equality Act 2010.

Hints and tips

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Dear {{name}},

I’m writing to urge you to take note of the National Secular Society’s recommendations to address gaps in the Equality Act 2010, that allow unnecessary discrimination to continue.

The report finds that discrimination against the non-religious and members of religious minorities remains lawful across much of public life 10 years after the passage of the landmark Equality Act. You can read the report, ‘Faith-shaped holes: how religious privilege undermines equality law’, here: https://www.secularism.org.uk/equality/faith-shaped-holes.html

The report argues that glaring gaps in equality legislation are leading to undesirable and unnecessary religious discrimination, fuelling societal segregation, and reducing opportunities for people because of who they are or what they believe.

By way of summary, the report found:

1. Education
The religious ‘gaps’ in the Equality Act take their heaviest toll on our children. Although our nation’s schools should be beacons of tolerance and equality, the entrenchment of religion in British education systems shatters these aspirations. This report finds that exceptions to accommodate faith schools, faith-based admissions and religious practice in schools are leading to a level of religious discrimination that would not be tolerated in any other area of society.

2. Caste-based discrimination
 Although tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of people belonging to oppressed castes live in the UK, they still have no meaningful protection from discrimination.

3. Employment
There is evidence that some organisations might be using the ‘genuine occupational requirement’ exceptions in the Equality Act as ‘loopholes’ to avoid employing people who don’t belong to the ‘right’ religion in seemingly secular roles.

The report sets out a number of potential legislative changes to address these issues.

In her foreword to the report, former equalities minister Baroness Lynne Featherstone writes:
“The Equality Act has contributed to the UK becoming a more tolerant nation and has been vital in tackling discrimination against minorities and safeguarding individuals’ rights. This ten-year anniversary provides a timely opportunity to assess the impact of the act. As this excellent, informed, and forensic report by the National Secular Society demonstrates it is certainly not a case of ‘job done’.”

The continued existence of exemptions to sustain religious privilege is completely at odds with ambitions to create a fair society.

I therefore urge you to support the legislative changes outlined in this report – and close the ‘faith-shaped holes’ to promote equality for all, irrespective of religion or belief.

Yours sincerely,

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MP Letter: Equality laws

End religious exemptions in equality law

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