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Keir Starmer’s Government has announced plans to implement a long-dormant section of the 2010 Equality Act, which would require political parties to publish diversity data about their election candidates.
Section 106, which was written into law 15 years ago but never enacted, would require parties to release information about candidates standing for the House of Commons, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd (Parliament). Calls to enact the law were resisted by the Conservatives in Government from 2010.
Minister for Women and Equalities Annaliese Dodds MP announced the change in a little-noticed address last month, telling an MP: “The Government is committed to commencing the Equality Act 2010’s provision requiring registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections.”
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She added: “I am proud that progress is being made [on political diversity], with 40% of MPs now women, but we want to see this replicated at all levels of Government.”
It follows now-education secretary Bridget Philipson meeting with members of 50:50 Parliament last summer, “where they discussed the importance of gender equality in parliament and the barriers that women can face.”
“We are currently exploring when to commence the section 106 provisions. We believe that every party has a duty to demonstrate greater progress towards better representation of the population that they seek to serve,” minister Dodds told the Commons.
Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 would provide more transparency in political candidate diversity, following on for reporting of gender pay gaps by large companies.
It would require political parties to publish information about the diversity of their candidates based on protected characteristics (like gender, race, disability, etc.)
It applies to registered political parties who field candidates in Parliamentary Elections, Scottish Parliament Elections and Welsh Parliament Elections
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Information about the protected characteristics would cover successful and unsuccessful candidates for selections, as well as elected candidates – meaning voters and researchers would have an insight on the pipeline of talent in political parties, and which groups may be being disadvantaged.
It only works if candidates voluntarily provide the information (parties can’t force candidates to disclose), but it seems likely that most would engage with the process – at least in left-of-centre parties.
The exact details about what information must be published, when, and how, will be set out by ministers. Smaller parties (with candidates in fewer than a certain number of constituencies) are also likely to be exempt.
A spokesperson for the Electoral Reform Society said it would “finally lift the lid on diversity data and ensure parties are transparent about their selection procedures.”
“By making this information public, Section 106 would encourage political parties to take real action to ensure fair representation.”
Branding the move a “big win” for equality campaigners, they added: “By shining a light on diversity in politics, we can ensure that everyone, regardless of gender or background, has an equal opportunity to be involved. This is a simple but powerful step toward making politics work for everyone.”
Currently, 41% of MPs are women (263 out of 650), up from 22% (141) in 2010. Certain protected characteristics including marriage, civil partnership, and pregnancy will be exempt from the new reporting requirements.
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