Attorney general Suella Braverman said she scrapped diversity training which “does nothing to create solidarity and support but rather keeps emphasising difference”.
The Indian-origin Tory politician called the diversity industry a “new religion” where zealots sought to “punish unbelievers while others are too scared to speak out”.
The staff of her department had spent almost 2,000 hours on diversity training last year where they were given lectures on ‘micro-incivilities’ and ‘how to be a straight ally’, Braverman wrote in an article for the Daily Mail.
The experts on ‘white privilege’ who shared their insights were cited as “authoritative”, she said, adding that they all subscribed to the “left-wing view on race, gender and sexuality which permeated their training materials”.
She said she would encourage other ministers of the government to revisit their departments’ diversity programmes and scrutinise the value for money they offer.
“Diversity agenda thrives in darkness”, said Braverman who was voted out of the Conservative leadership contest in its early stages last month.
According to her, it was easy to view the past through the prism of the present and then use the new orthodoxy to settle old scores.
“Today that orthodoxy is called ‘diversity, equality and inclusion”, she said and urged Britons to be “serious about taking on this divisive mindset”.
“Government lawyers are told that if a black person says something is offensive, then it is offensive, and they don’t have a right to question it. How does that fit with the rule of law, or due process?” the attorney general wrote.
While such thinking was “harmful” in other departments, it was “downright dangerous” in legal cases, she said.
“It does nothing to create solidarity and encourage support but rather keeps emphasising difference, creates a sense of ‘otherness’ and pits different groups against each other”, she said.
Braverman also referred to tax expert Maya Forstater who was sacked in 2019 over tweets questioning government proposals to allow people to self-identify as the opposite sex.
Forstater’s legal fight “ultimately ended in a triumph for common sense and freedom of speech”, she said.
Suella Braverman says diversity zealots have created dangerous 'new religion', punish unbelievers
The attorney general said she scrapped diversity training which kept emphasising difference
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)