The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing backlash over allegations of a "two-tier" system, with claims that white jobseekers are being excluded from taxpayer-funded employment programmes.
Exclusive Schemes for Ethnic Minorities
A range of employment support initiatives run by local authorities for benefit claimants are reportedly open only to ethnic minorities. The Telegraph highlighted examples such as the "Economic Inactivity Trailblazer," operated by the DWP itself.
William Yarwood, campaigns director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, condemned the use of public money for such programmes. "Taxpayers should not be funding schemes that exclude people because of their race," he told the newspaper. "Race-based eligibility smacks of identity politics and a two-tier system, which undermines public confidence. Ministers should end these discriminatory programmes and ensure taxpayer-funded support is open to all jobseekers who need it."
Criticism from Campaign Groups
Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of Don’t Divide Us, described the schemes as "segregationist." She questioned whether authorities had considered relevant variables before implementing "yet another divisive, race-based, segregationist plan." She warned that such policies could lead to civil disobedience due to "the patronising stupidity of leaders who think this is a good plan."
The DWP has previously run schemes exclusively for non-white jobseekers, including "mentoring circles" and the "Moving on Up initiative" in London, which was restricted to black men. The department has stated it provides "bespoke programmes" to help ethnic minority claimants into work, with equality objectives focused on tackling employment gaps.
DWP Response
A DWP spokesman defended the approach, saying: "Every penny of taxpayer money we spend on employment support is focused on one thing – getting people back to work and growing the economy. Local authorities know their communities and sometimes decide to offer local programmes targeted at groups with above average levels of unemployment, alongside their wider support which must be available to all."
The spokesman added that the DWP is transforming Jobcentre Plus to create a service available to everyone, regardless of ethnicity or barriers to work, backed by a £3.5bn investment in employment support for sick or disabled people and £2.5bn for youth employment reforms.
