EHRC leaves Stonewall
“We wrote to Stonewall in March to let them know that we would not be renewing our membership, and this has now expired.”
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published a Board Effectiveness Review which is illuminating about the tensions within the organisation as the chair and board try to navigate a transition from an activist organisation to a regulator.
“In particular, the chair and board have been instrumental in effecting radical change by re-positioning the commission as a rigorous, objective regulator in the field of equality and human rights as opposed to its perceived historic position as an advocate for activist groups.”
Independent board review
The Equality and Human Rights Commission previously had a very close relationship with Stonewall, as a member of its Champions scheme, and with previous Stonewall chair David Isaac as chair of the commission.
A group of staff leaked complaints to the press in February 2022, and submitted a dossier of 40 complaints in February 2023, leading to an investigation. News of the investigation and the contents of the complaints were leaked to Channel 4, which broadcast an “exposé” in May 2023.
Stonewall and associated organisations have tried three times (January 2022, June 2022, May 2023) to get the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) to censure the Equality and Human Rights Commission for doing its job, and it is currently under review.
30th April 2021
Collier moved onto Liberty, and is a Trustee of Mermaids.
1st May 2021
Whittle was influential trans rights lawyer campaigner at the time of the GRA. White ia a current trans rights lawyer and campaigner.
Whittle says “EHRC now run by Government appointees who have zilch knowledge of trans lives”.
White says EHRC are not “correct in law”.
26th January 2022
Whittle says staff feel betrayed by the letter and very unhappy with forthcoming single-sex services guidance.
28th January 2022
“Would leave if they could.”
2nd February 2022
2nd February 2022
Calls for the entire board to be replaced.
11th February 2022
Grey Collier says EHRC doesn’t meet the standard for EHRC accreditation.
10th February 2022
11th February 2022
She calls it a “profound and wilful misinterpretation of the law”.
16th Febuary 2022
On Board interviewed all ten Non-Executive Commissioners (including the Chair) and all members of the Senior Leadership Team (including the Chief Executive).
27th April 2022
17th May 2022
Article published by Trans Legal Project.
1st July 2022
“Chairwoman and the Board have been instrumental in effecting radical change by re-positioning the Commission as a rigorous, objective regulator in the field of equality and human rights as opposed to its perceived historic position as an advocate for activist groups.”
25th May 2023
“Staff are the real experts in Equalities & Human rights… whereas the Commissioners clearly do not understand”
6th November 2023
16th November 2023
Melanie Field poses with Nancy Kelley, Stephen Whittle and Robin White at Conference held by Steph Richard’s TransLucent organisation.
Nancy Kelley says “we all agree” on the Equality Act.
27th November 2023