Westminster Council’s “Privilege Test” Sparks Backlash over Race-Based Hiring Practices

[Social Media]

 

Westminster Council’s “Privilege Test” Sparks Backlash over Race-Based Hiring Practices

 

Westminster City Council, one of the UK’s most prominent Labour-run local authorities, has ignited a national debate after instructing its staff to undertake a “privilege” test and adhere to new hiring protocols prioritising “global majority” candidates over equally qualified white applicants. The controversial initiative is part of a broader effort to address unconscious bias and align council staff demographics with Westminster’s population, where 45 per cent of residents identify as part of the global majority—a term used to describe black, Asian and multiple ethnic groups that make up the majority of the world’s population.

 

 

As part of the council’s diversity and inclusion strategy, managers must now complete mandatory unconscious bias and inclusive recruitment training. If a hiring manager fails to shortlist a global majority candidate, even when such a candidate is available but deemed unqualified, they are required to consult directly with Stuart Love, the council’s chief executive. According to documents seen by The Telegraph, hiring managers are also advised to seek further guidance if no global majority applicants come forward, before they can proceed with the recruitment process.

 

 

Employees are offered a virtual “privilege walk” quiz to assess their level of social advantage. This interactive assessment assigns or deducts points based on indicators such as whether a participant’s parents read to them as a child, whether they own a new car, or if they have never been stopped by police. Being a white male scores +15, while deductions occur for those with disabilities, illnesses, or those living in rented housing. Staff are asked to reflect on their privilege scores and anonymously share their insights at the end of the exercise.

 

The diversity strategy has been spearheaded by Mr Love, who has led Westminster City Council since 2018. He has attributed his dedication to equality to his personal experiences growing up in apartheid-era South Africa. “We should all be woke, but particularly in local government where we are delivering services to communities,” Mr Love told Management Today. He added, “When things have gone wrong here, I’ve heard people say it’s because I’m too ‘woke’ or I’m focusing on the ‘woke agenda’. But all this has done is double down on my efforts.”

 

Critics have argued that the council's approach prioritises identity over merit and potentially contravenes anti-discrimination laws. Conservative MP Neil O’Brien denounced the policies as “racist hiring policies on an industrial scale.” He wrote in The Telegraph, “If all this is not breaking the law, it certainly should be. It shows how far the public sector has drifted from the idea of meritocracy.” O’Brien further criticised the requirement for managers to consult with the chief executive if they do not shortlist a global majority candidate, even when qualifications may not be met. “This is a deliberately opaque part of the process, presumably intended to lead to the production of such a candidate,” he said.

 

In defence of its policies, Westminster Council maintains that all appointments are based on merit. A council spokesman said, “Westminster City Council’s recruitment policies are industry standard, entirely consistent with UK employment law and have been in place for a number of years. We are committed to ensuring all candidates can compete for a range of roles and we actively promote ourselves as an inclusive employer.” The council also distanced itself from the virtual privilege walk, describing it as a PowerPoint presentation from 2021 that does not form any formal part of policy, training, or recruitment.

 

Nonetheless, critics argue the council’s practices reveal an inconsistent and politically motivated approach to representation. O’Brien pointed out that while black residents make up 8 per cent of Westminster’s population, they represent over 20 per cent of council staff, whereas Arabs—8 per cent of the population—comprise only 1 per cent of employees. “In reality, there is no attempt to really be ‘representative’ of their local population. Some groups are regarded as more equal than others,” he said.

 

He concluded that Britain is drifting from principles of equal treatment, asserting, “Instead of your ability or the content of your character, in Britain your ability to get funding or a job increasingly depends on your skin colour. This is the opposite of the vision of Martin Luther King. Ironically, it resembles the naked racism of the old South Africa.”

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-04-05

 

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

No surprise.

 

White men have got a better chance of getting a senior position in Thailand than the UK.

 

Commit a crime and we are about the only group who don't need a pre sentencing report.

 

Second class citizens. Punished for the left's imagined crimes of our forefathers.

 

I knew it was going downhill when I left in 2006 but I couldn't have imagined it would get this bad. 

 

Best decision I ever made. 

[mikeymike100]

" Conservative MP Neil O’Brien denounced the policies as “racist hiring policies on an industrial scale.” He wrote in The Telegraph, “If all this is not breaking the law, it certainly should be"

 

Absolutely right on the nail!!

This is DEI which is inherently racist!