Britain’s public sector is reportedly spending around £70 million annually on diversity, equality, and inclusion (EDI) roles, even as vital frontline services in the NHS, police, and local councils face significant pressure. An investigation by The Mail on Sunday has brought to light the scale of public funding directed towards these roles, sparking substantial criticism from politicians and campaign groups who argue the money could be better spent addressing urgent operational challenges.

The NHS alone is said to allocate £40 million each year to EDI jobs, despite record patient backlogs and increased waiting lists. Recent roles advertised include senior diversity positions with salaries exceeding £120,000 pro rata—comparable to the entry-level pay of multiple junior doctors. For example, Gloucestershire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust advertised a Head of EDI role with a salary up to £68,525, and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offered an EDI Officer position with a salary up to £46,580. Critics note that such salaries often outpace those of frontline medical staff providing direct patient care.

This expenditure continued despite explicit instructions from Health Secretary Steve Barclay in November 2023 for NHS leaders to halt the recruitment of diversity roles, citing concerns over ‘woke ideology.’ Data revealed that 336 diversity roles across 111 NHS trusts still cost taxpayers £13.6 million annually, with an average salary significantly higher than the UK average. The TaxPayers’ Alliance decried the sustained spending as delivering “little tangible benefits” amid soaring NHS waiting lists and police service strains.

Similarly, police forces have expanded their investment in diversity posts, spending £6 million on such roles in 2023-24, with a notable 34 per cent jump in job numbers from 147 to 197 over two years. West Yorkshire Police was the largest spender, allocating £1.2 million, despite their chief constable previously highlighting severe budgetary cuts and staff shortages. Thames Valley Police’s diversity programme was recently criticised for lacking transparency after white officers won a discrimination claim alleging they were passed over for promotion due to race considerations.

Local authorities also form part of this substantial investment, with almost £23 million spent on EDI roles in 2022-23. Some councils have faced public backlash around these appointments; for instance, Newham Council’s head of diversity role offers a salary up to £71,412 and involves interests in specific identity issues, while the council simultaneously raised council tax by 9 per cent citing essential service protection. Birmingham City Council, on the brink of bankruptcy, appointed an Assistant Director of Community Services and EDI on a salary topping £100,000 just before its financial collapse.

Defenders argue that investment in EDI improves workforce wellbeing and public trust. The NHS Confederation described EDI spending as “an investment that can improve workforce wellbeing” and essential for cultivating an inclusive working environment amid rising discriminatory incidents. West Yorkshire Police stated that prioritising diversity was crucial to “building trust and confidence and improving public safety.” The chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council diversity committee, Chief Constable Rachel Swann, underscored the importance of making policing inclusive for all communities.

However, frontline pressures remain stark. NHS England data shows over 7.2 million people waiting for routine hospital treatment as of early 2023, and police forces report operational challenges due to budget cuts and staffing shortfalls. Critics like the Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have labelled the ongoing public sector investment in diversity roles as “madness” that “stokes grievance and division” while draining resources from crucial public services. The TaxPayers’ Alliance and other watchdogs urge public bodies to scrutinise spending rigorously, focusing taxpayer money on areas that directly improve service delivery rather than on what some see as ideological roles.

A Government spokesperson highlighted the expectation “that every pound spent of taxpayer money must deliver for the public – putting more police on the streets, cutting NHS waiting lists or investing in the frontline.” The ongoing debate reflects tensions between efforts to promote equality and inclusion in public institutions and the pressing need to maintain and improve frontline service provision facing considerable demand and budgetary challenges.

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Source: Noah Wire Services