London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to disburse more than £2.5 million on the latest Transport for London diversity training programme.
How Will Khan’s £2.5 Million Diversity Training Be Implemented?
The Mayor of London is undertaking a four-year push to implant an “inclusive culture” across Transport for London (TfL), Crossrail and the Department for Transport and is advertising for a contractor to conduct the training. The £2.77 million agreement runs until 2028 and will spread to equality, diversity and inclusion agendas across the London Fire Service and the Metropolitan Police.
Why Is Sadiq Khan Investing in Diversity Training for TfL?
Unconscious prejudice training was scrapped at the central government level four years ago after an official study found the courses did not modify behaviour or improve workplace equality.
But Mr Khan has persisted in pressing ahead with schemes sought to boost diversity in the workplace and reduce “microaggressions”.
The advert on the Cabinet Office website says: “TfL is seeking to appoint a framework to
deliver equality, diversity and inclusion training to attendants and other organisations to help TfL address inequalities, implant an inclusive culture, and put people, customers and colleagues at the heart of decisions and changes that are made at TfL.”
What Criticisms Have Been Raised Against TfL’s Diversity Training?
Richard Tice, the Reform deputy leader and MP for Boston and Skegness, stated: “This is just a staggering, inappropriate waste of money. “All diversity and inclusion training should be scrapped, as should the Equality Act 2010. This waste is destroying productivity across the whole public sector.” It appeared earlier this year that the policing office operated by the Labour mayor is spending up to £25,000 on “anti-racism allyship” training for members of the Met scrutiny board.
What Organizations Will Benefit from TfL’s Inclusion Training?
TfL sources expressed each organisation would pay for the training it accepted and there was no commitment to pay the full amount. A TfL spokesman stated: “This training will support tens of thousands of staff across several organisations, including the Met Police, the Department of Transport and other Greater London Authority bodies for four years. “As public organisations, representing millions of people from all walks of life, it is right that organisations are inclusive and ensure people are treated fairly to better serve the community.”
What Are the Financial Implications of TfL’s New Training Scheme?
Neil Garratt, a member of the London Assembly, stated: “The vast bulk of the manifesto commitments Sadiq Khan was re-elected on depended on a Labour government being elected.
“Will Rachel Reeves now give in and fund the mayor’s demands with £25 billion of additional borrowing? “We accept long-term investment in our city but Londoners should not forget that Mayor Khan already has a £21 billion annual budget that he has not spent prudently.”
A spokesman for Mr Khan stated the City Hall Tories figures were “misleading nonsense”. They stated: “It’s going to be tough to clean up the chaos left by the previous government, but the mayor looks forward to operating hand-in-hand with the new government to make a better London for everyone, boost economic growth and help deliver the change Britain needs.”