Policy paper

Equality strategy

The government’s equality strategy sets out our vision for a strong, modern and fair Britain.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Details

The government’s equality strategy sets out our vision for a strong, modern and fair Britain. It is built on two principles of equality - equal treatment and equal opportunity.

This means building a society where no one is held back because of who they are, or where they come from.

New approach

The strategy sets out a new approach, not built on bureaucracy but aimed at:

  • changing culture and attitudes
  • tackling the causes of inequality
  • building a stronger fairer and more cohesive society where equality is for everyone and is everyone’s responsibility

The government cannot and will not do this by dictating from the centre.

Instead, our strategy sets out how we will work with business, local communities and citizens to promote good practice, transparency and accountability.  

The strategy sets out a new approach to delivering equality, moving away from the identity politics of the past and to an approach that recognises people’s individuality. 

It explains a new role for government, promoting equality through transparency and behaviour change and working with businesses, the voluntary sector and wider civil society to create equal opportunities for everyone. 

The equality strategy document is available in a varitey of formats and versions including easy read, large print and Welsh.

Theresa May, Home Secretary and minister for women and equality:

‘Equality underpins this coalition’s guiding principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility. But in the end, it will take all of us working together to build the strong, modern and fair Britain that we all want to see.’ Source Equality strategy.

Update

The equality strategy: building a fairer Britain: progress report

On 22 May 2012 the government publised a progress report which describes how the new approach to equality, which is based on transparency, local accountability and reducing bureaucracy, is beginning to make a difference across the five key priority areas outlined in the equality strategy.

Read the equality strategy progress report.

Published 1 December 2010