A Bill to prohibit the use of affirmative and positive action in recruitment and appointment processes; to repeal the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002; and for connected purposes.
The Bill would introduce a prohibition on affirmative or positive action by public authorities in recruitment or appointment processes. Affirmative or positive action is defined in the Bill as 'action that is intended to give a benefit or encouragement to a particular group or groups of people, on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, disability, religion, or socio-economic status.' The Bill would also repeal the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002.
House of Commons
9 November 2009
This Bill would stop public authorities from using actions intended to help or promote particular groups when they recruit or appoint staff. It would repeal the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002. It also defines what counts as affirmative or positive action and who it could affect, based on various characteristics.
The bill is at the 2nd reading stage in the Commons and has not yet progressed to committee or further stages.
Generated 21 February 2026
This Bill was on the Order Paper for a Second Reading debate on 16 October but there was an Objection taken under Standing Order No. 11(2).
The Bill was on the Order Paper for a Second Reading on several Fridays before being dropped by its sponsor, Mr Philip Davies.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
