The Labour faction influencing Downing Street’s pitch to Reform UK voters has urged ministers to “root out DEI.” An article from the Blue Labour campaign group, titled What is to be Done, calls for the government to legislate against diversity, equity, and inclusion, mirroring the right-wing backlash from Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. The Blue Labour campaign group, founded in 2009 by academic Maurice Glasman, a Labour peer, includes MPs representing seats in the north of England. Keir Starmer’s turn to the right and the framing of Labour as “the party of patriotism” reflect Blue Labour thinking.
Urging the party to renew its “covenant with the British people,” Blue Labour’s article states that it rejects divisive identity politics, which undermines solidarity among different groups. It suggests legislation to root out DEI in hiring practices, sentencing decisions, and other public bodies. Earlier, the Guardian reported organizations rebranding inclusion initiatives to avoid political attention. In February, the equalities minister, Seema Malhotra, affirmed the government’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, with new legislation requiring employers to report on ethnicity and disability pay gaps.
However, since the local elections where Reform gained seats, the prime minister has shifted further to the cultural right, risking losing support from minority ethnic voters and left-leaning voters. In May, ministers denied allegations that Keir Starmer sounded like Enoch Powell in a speech about migration. Blue Labour also advocates for lower migration, suggesting measures to reduce low-skill immigration, address visa misuse, and prioritize domestic politics over international law.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/02/blue-labour-group-urges-ministers-root-out-dei-win-over-reform-voters
