The UK government, led by 'Common Sense' Minister Esther McVey, is implementing a crackdown on civil service diversity roles and initiatives. This radical overhaul will ban new hires dedicated to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and eliminate existing diversity jobs. McVey has also announced a ban on civil servants wearing rainbow lanyards, which are seen as symbols of support for LGBT rights. The move is part of a broader effort to reduce what McVey describes as 'woke hobby horses' in Whitehall spending. However, there is some division within the government, as Grant Shapps has rejected the ban on rainbow lanyards, and official guidance does not mention them. McVey's stance has sparked debate about the role of political expression in the civil service. Nick Fletcher has supported the decision, and McVey warned that civil servants could be reprimanded for not following the guidance. She announced these measures at the Centre for Policy Studies.
A cabinet split has opened up on civil service rainbow lanyards as it emerges that guidance agreed across government will not actually ban officials from wearing them ⬇️ https://t.co/voNlaPaywG
'People want their public servants to be getting on with the jobs of making their life better,' says minister for common sense Esther McVey, before announcing a ban on civil servants wearing rainbow lanyards She was speaking at the Centre for Policy Studies on Monday @itvnews https://t.co/qTJt3i0Em7
Lanyards latest: Rainbow lanyards will not actually be banned by official guidance coming today Grant Shapps rejects ban on "political" lanyards pushed by "common sense minister" Esther McVey - as govt write-round and policy doc does not mention them https://t.co/nvf3RyakyW
Especially pertinent now that we have the Tory “Common Sense Minister” Esther McVey condemning rainbow lanyards as she says they’re “promoting” homosexuality. Because we all know nothing converts the average hetero to gayness as fast as the sight of a rainbow neck ribbon… https://t.co/WKaSl9apcx
“Asking people to take their lanyard off is like taking a welcome sign out of a window.” @KezDugdale, tells #TimesRadio Esther McVey’s ban on civil servants wearing rainbow lanyards signals that "gay people are to be tolerated rather than included." 📻 https://t.co/lYTcJorjWb https://t.co/czCgfSF7zC
Rainbow lanyards don't bother me, Grant Shapps says as Esther McVey urges crackdown https://t.co/gqFeTGVirI
Esther McVey is in the news for banning rainbow lanyards. Here’s how the Minister for Common Sense also spends your money https://t.co/X6tckdai0F
What I don’t understand about the rainbow lanyards ban is that promoting LGBT rights is Government policy. I could understand a ban on eg people wearing FBPE EU flag lanyards contra to Government policy or lanyards that advocated LGBT policy beyond govt policy. https://t.co/LlOYyN8Z1F
Rainbow lanyards don't bother me, Grant Shapps says after 'common sense minister' urges crackdown - @Jitjoshi reports https://t.co/nBF5z2Titk
Esther McVey planning crackdown on civil service diversity initiatives https://t.co/AOmbcppEqN
⚠️ The minister for common sense warned mandarins they should not try to express political views “by the back door” through rainbow-coloured lanyards that are worn to demonstrate support for LGBT rights https://t.co/uLil3U5wKg
RAINBOW LANYARDS - DIVISIVE NOT INCLUSIVE Following my written question (picture below) on how much money is being spent on these lanyards in the Houses of Parliament I am pleased to see this decision. https://t.co/3rH6zeEkJK This ideology, rather than bringing people… https://t.co/VikwqKngNd
Civil service jobs dedicated to improving equality, diversity and inclusion will be scrapped under plans, the common sense minister has said. Ian Collins: “You don’t see this in the private sector on such and epic scale.” @iancollinsuk https://t.co/PWz9MsAxJS
🚨 NEW: The 'common sense' minister has banned rainbow lanyards for civil servants [@thetimes]
Esther McVey warns civil servants could be reprimanded for wearing LGBT+ lanyards as 'common sense' minister tells Whitehall officials to 'leave your political views at home' https://t.co/To02TnMwhW https://t.co/6jhaUqmCYb
🚨 ‘Common Sense’ Minister on lanyards… My exchange with Esther McVey about why she wants to stop “pick and mix” lanyards in the Civil Service But @EstherMcVey1 didnt seem too happy when I asked her what the consequences would be if civil servants didn’t follow guidance @LBC https://t.co/KmTt4ST1c8
'Common Sense' minister Esther McVey has declared war on civil service jobs dedicated to 'equality, diversity and inclusion', claiming that money is being wasted on "woke hobby horses". https://t.co/xOVBo6IOzA
There will be an end to civil service jobs dedicated to 'equality, diversity and inclusion' (EDI) - money can’t be wasted on 'woke hobby horses' …. https://t.co/DPNFxLJild
'I won't be sad to see the end of it!' @PaulCoxcomedy, @LeoKearse and @CressidaWetton react to a front page of Sunday's Telegraph about diversity roles in the civil service. https://t.co/FIakDDZ8le
'Woke hobby horse' diversity jobs to be banned in the Civil Service by government https://t.co/LP8Jen0HiP
📰 The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph: Civil Service diversity roles to be scrapped #TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletter ⬇️ https://t.co/x8AV4Oomry https://t.co/kS7DXFdpTj
🔴 Civil Service diversity jobs will be scrapped Radical overhaul will forbid managers from hiring any new staff dedicated to boosting equality and inclusion https://t.co/hJASDJpE6m
✍️ 'The Civil Service has forgotten it serves the public, not woke hobby horses. We are fighting back,' writes @EstherMcVey1 Civil Service diversity jobs will be banned in a new crackdown on Whitehall “woke” spending, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal. Read more ⬇️… https://t.co/tzUxQ2LVbQ
"Civil Service diversity jobs will be scrapped "Radical overhaul will forbid managers from hiring any new staff dedicated to boosting equality and inclusion" https://t.co/24iSQiDYpX