Are Actually Creating More Discrimination | IEA Briefing

IEA's new discussion paper "Liberalising Discrimination Law" examines how anti-discrimination legislation in the UK has evolved since the 1960s, with particular focus on the Equality Act 2010. Daniel Freeman, one of the paper's authors, breaks down how the law has shifted from addressing direct discrimination to increasingly complex regulations around indirect discrimination and group outcomes. The discussion explores real-world examples, including the Next retail case where warehouse workers' higher pay compared to shop staff led to discrimination claims, and how Birmingham City Council faced £700 million in backpay due to equal pay disputes. Freeman explains how current legislation can create unintended economic distortions and burden employers with complex compliance requirements. Watch as Freeman and host Reem Ibrahim examine the paper's core argument for stripping back the Equality Act to focus primarily on direct discrimination, while questioning whether policies meant to address historical inequalities may sometimes work against individual fairness. They also discuss potential future trends in discrimination law, drawing parallels with recent developments in the United States. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit economicaffairs.co.uk/subscribe