Reform UK Presents Leadership Team with Focus on Education Reform
Nigel Farage unveiled Reform UK’s senior team at a high-profile London press conference, presenting former Conservative minister Suella Braverman as the party’s lead on education and equality. During the announcement, Braverman pledged that Reform would repeal the Equality Act 2010 if it forms a future government.
Braverman argued that current diversity and inclusion policies are dividing society. She said Reform aims to build a country based on merit and personal responsibility rather than what she described as “tokenism” and “victimhood”.
Equality Law Protections at Risk
The Equality Act 2010 is the UK’s main anti-discrimination law, safeguarding people from unfair treatment based on characteristics such as gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, and pregnancy. Braverman’s proposal to abolish it would mark a major shift in equality policy and workplace protections.
She insisted that equal treatment should come from universal standards rather than targeted diversity measures, arguing that existing frameworks undermine unity and excellence.
Trade Unions Condemn Proposal
The plan drew strong criticism from labour groups, particularly the Trades Union Congress (TUC). General secretary Paul Nowak warned that scrapping the law would weaken rights achieved through decades of campaigning.
Nowak said the move would effectively allow discrimination against workers based on protected characteristics and described the proposal as a “sledgehammer to hard-won rights”. He argued it could empower exploitative employers and erode workplace protections.
Policing Leader Defends Equality Measures
Former Merseyside Police chief constable Serena Kennedy previously cautioned that removing equality legislation would not produce a fairer society. She stressed that diversity and inclusion policies exist because equal treatment is not yet consistently experienced across public services.
Kennedy noted that gaps in trust and service quality would widen if institutions abandoned targeted equality strategies, particularly for marginalised communities.
Reform’s Team Raises Questions
Farage presented the event with a campaign-style atmosphere, showcasing a prospective governing team. Alongside Braverman, former Conservative minister Robert Jenrick was introduced as Reform’s potential chancellor, while party policy head Zia Yusuf was positioned as a future home secretary.
However, critics pointed out that several leading Reform figures previously served in Conservative governments that voters rejected at the last election. Opposition parties argue this undermines Reform’s attempt to present itself as a new political alternative.
Critics Call Reform “Party of the Past”
Despite the polished presentation, opponents say Reform’s leadership choices highlight continuity rather than change. They contend that recruiting former Conservative ministers contradicts the party’s message of renewal and reform.
For supporters, though, the lineup signals readiness for power and a willingness to challenge established policies such as the Equality Act. The debate now centres on whether voters see Reform as a genuine break from mainstream politics or simply a rebranded extension of it.
