Truss Accused Of 'Erasing Women' With Role Change

Liz Truss's government has been accused of “erasing women from the equalities agenda” after the word "women” was removed from the title of a ministerial role - and the job given to a man.

- Maya Oppenheim

Nadhim Zahawi, who served as chancellor between July and September, was appointed equalities minister on Tuesday as part of the new prime minister's revamped cabinet.

The role was previously titled "women and equalities minister". The change has led some to suggest that the importance of women's issues at the Government Equalities Office has been "downgraded".

Kate Osborne, a Labour MP who sits on the women and equalities committee, said: "At present, Nadhim Zahawi is the head of the equalities ministry, even if they appoint a women's minister, they will be more junior than him. They have restructured the government department and at best downgraded the importance of women's equalities."

The MP for Jarrow chaired yesterday's session of the committee - which focuses on attitudes toward women and girls in educational settings. "It may be the last committee with this name as the new prime minister has appointed a minister for equalities dropping women from the portfolio," she said.

"Women still face huge issues with sexism and misogyny - not just today's discussion on attitudes to women and girls, but the gender pay gap, gender health inequalities, maternity pay, menopause at work, violence against women, a huge drop in prosecutions for domestic abuse and many more inequalities that need to be addressed."