Tucked away in the additional information provided in the budget is probably the most sinister of cuts. In financial terms is isn't saving very much but for many it will lead to less fairness and for them, where they suffer multi-discrimination, which single form has caused them the most harm.

The Equality Act was to introduce the concept of "dual-discrimination", this budget & The Plan for Growth that accompanies it will cease these new rules from reaching law.

So if you are at work, live with HIV/AIDS and are Gay or are a Woman that is Black and believe you have suffered discrimination on the grounds of disability & Sexual Orientation or Gender & Race you will only be able to challenge one of the forms of discrimination you have suffered - you will have to choose. I have chosen two eamples but of course there are many combinations of discrimination and the whole idea of the 'dual-discrimination rules" was to bring more truth and transparency to the plain fact that people can and often do suffer more than one form of discrimintation and that in doing so become more removed from being treated equitable and with Equality.

In terms of HIV/AIDS, it is somewhat unique as there still exists a very high degree of stigma.  This change, mentioned in passing on Budget day and hidden deep in  (Page 54) The Growth Plan, is  a complete betrayal of fairness especially for those living with HIV/AIDS. As it is likely that before there status is know it may well be that they are already subject to other forms of discrimination.  Regular readers of this site know that I always talk about stigma in terms of merely being part of, usually a compound consisting of other discriminating factors.

Bringing any legal action on grounds of discrimination isn't something to be entered into lightly and can be very costly to the individual concerned.

 
 
"2)  The Government will scrap proposals for specific regulations that would have cost
businesses over £350 million a year to implement.
2.51 To reduce the costs of regulation on all businesses, the Government is announcing that it:
 
- will not extend the right to request time to train to businesses with fewer than 250
employees. It is estimated that this would have cost businesses up to £350 million a
year,¹¹ and will provide SMEs with the flexibility to manage the training
requirements of their companies to meet their needs without spending time on
administering the ’right to request’ process, which is proportionately more costly
for smaller businesses; 

- will not bring forward Equality Act dual discrimination rules that would have cost
business £3 million per year;¹²  

- repeal the right to request flexible working to parents of 17 year olds that was
planned for April, which would have had an administrative burden costing £0.5
million;¹³ and

- will consult to remove the unworkable requirement in the Equality Act for
businesses to take reasonable steps to prevent persistent harassment of their staff
by third parties as they have no direct control over it, which would save £0.3
million.^14"

Coupled with the attach on the disabled and sick in the Welfare Reform and Social Care changes, attack on children and attack on women. This is a backward step on narrowing the gap on "fairness" and tips the balance back many years.

It is difficult for me personally to remain calm on this issue. Especially as the ecomonic arguement about saving costs to create growth are overwhelmingly wrong with the benefits to the economy as a whole by removing barriers and getting those furthest from the work force back to paying taxes by ensuring they have access to legal redress to ensure equal access to society, work & to contribute to the economy.

Without much anger this week. MP's expenses are to get a boost, they may well be able to claim more. I would have prefered them to forgo the expansion in there expense entitlements that serves a few in favour of pursuing the dual-discrimination rules that would serve the whole of society. I would also wager that the cost of the rise in MP's expenses will also cost more than the £3million saved by making society less fair.

"Budget takes rights away from people with HIV" - National AIDS Trust Press Release

"This "neutral" budget's first principal is to attack equality" - Zoe Williams , Guardian