The UK government is no longer proposing to bring into effect s.14 EqA, relating to direct discrimination because of two protected characteristics. However it will produce guidance on this.
In an April 2025 Equality law call for evidence (gov.uk), the UK government said it was committed to commencing s.14 EqA, which (if brought into force) would expressly prohibit direct discrimination because of a combination of two protected characteristics – eg Muslim women, or disabled women.
However in an October 2026 response to this call for evidence (same link), the government now says that commencing s.14 would not materially increase equality law protection, and could create legal uncertainty and disbenefits. Commencing it would ultimately risk weaker and less effective protection. The government is still committed to strengthening protections against combined discrimination, as set out in its manifesto. However, it now intends to do this by producing guidance to help people and organisations fully understand the law on this.
With its response to the call for evidence, the government published Combined discrimination: research into prevalence and experiences (gov.uk), October 2026. The government says: ‘This lived experience research provides a deeper understanding of instances and experiences of combined discrimination, and of seeking redress in the current context. It also highlights challenges and opportunities around commencing section 14 of the Equality Act 2010, and consideration of the practicalities.
See further on combined discrimination, including the existing legal position:
- Multiple discrimination (dual discrimination) on my website, and
- Labour’s plans for discrimination law (rangeofreasonableresponses.com), February 2024.
