Harriet Harman backs down over employment equality for churches

Minister for women and equality Harriet Harman has backed down over employment equality for churches.

Harman has, according to the Times, been involved in a long-running dispute with religious organisations over their exemption from anti-discrimination employment law.

She was expected to introduce a clarification to the Equality Bill, stating that churches were exempt from discrimination legislation when recruiting for religious posts, but not when filling “non-religious” posts, such as youth workers or accountants.

It is thought that Harman backed down rather than overshadow preparations for the Pope’s visit to the UK. Earlier this week, the Pope said that the Equality Bill violated “natural justice”.