40 complaints
The head of Britain’s equality watchdog is being investigated by a senior lawyer over complaints made by colleagues.
A king’s counsel (KC) has been called in by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to carry out an independent investigation into dozens of allegations made against its chair, Kishwer Falkner.
The Guardian understands that 40 complaints have been made by 12 current or former staff members at the EHRC. The nature of the allegations has not been revealed by the watchdog…
The Daily Mail, which first revealed the investigation into Lady Falkner, quoted sources saying that she denied the allegations. They claimed that they were “ideologically motivated” because she is “the woman breaking woke”.
They suggested she is the victim of a witch-hunt because of the position the watchdog has taken on trans rights under her leadership.
Last year, the EHRC wrote to the Scottish government asking it to pause plans to simplify the legal requirements for gender recognition via self-identification. It also published guidance saying that transgender people can be legitimately excluded from single-sex services if the reasons are “justifiable and proportionate”.
That is, men who claim to be trans can be legitimately excluded from women’s services if the reasons are reasons. How dare she.
Last month, in response to a request for advice from the equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, Falkner wrote back in support of changing the Equality Act 2010, so that the protected characteristic of sex meant biological sex.
The EHRC’s interventions on the subject have angered LGBT+ groups as well as some of its own staff. In January, Vice News reported that seven senior officials including a board member had recently quit the EHRC over its alleged “transphobic direction”, having previously reported other resignations over the issue.
They want the EHRC to continue in a womanphobic direction instead.
