Equality at the Bar

The Bar Standards Board which regulates barristers, proposes to impose a positive duty to “act
in a way that advances equality, diversity and inclusion”.

It sounds innocuous but it is a step too far. Professionals already require barristers not to
“discriminate unlawfully against any person”.

A professional person should not need guidance like this. Solicitors will remember the
infamous “green card” in the 1990s issued by the Law Society to warn solicitors about the
dangers of mortgage fraud. As Sir David Napley said at the time “A solicitor does not need a
“green card” or any other colour card, to remind him of his duties to a bank”.

The same applies here. To set up a rule whereby chambers have to check whether they are
advancing “equality, diversity and inclusion” might mean hiring ethnic minority barristers who
are not the best candidate.

This sort of woke nonsense is being stamped out by Trump in America. We should try the
same approach here.

Rodney Hylton-Potts