Badenoch orders firms to focus on trade not activism

British companies should ditch political activism and focus on delivering goods and services for customers, the UK's business secretary said. Kemi Badenoch, who also works as Britain's equalities minister, said there was a “creeping politicisation" of businesses. She claimed equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives did more to divide than unify people.

- ALEXANDER BUTLER

Her intervention comes as 50 per cent of people thought businesses were too concerned with "taking political positions" on contested issues, according to a survey by right-wing think tank Policy Exchange. Up to 75 per cent also believed firms should hire on merit, regardless of race or gender, instead of seeking to create a diverse workforce, according to the survey.

"Policy Exchange's findings confirm what I know to be true from talking to people who run businesses, work in them, and buy from them," said Ms Badenoch. "The public want the focus of business to be on delivering great products and services, not activism or political causes - which repel as many people as they attract.