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
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Bill would ban public authorities from using positive action in recruitment or appointment decisions. It would also repeal the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002, removing a prior exception that allowed positive action in elections. It is aimed at reforming how equality and diversity policies are applied in public-sector staffing.
The bill is currently at the 2nd reading stage in the House of Commons. It originated in the Commons and has not yet progressed to later stages shown here.
Generated 21 February 2026
21 Jan 2009
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.
