Liz Kendall has branded Nigel Farage’s attacks on hiring workers from diverse backgrounds ‘ignorant’ and ‘unambitious’ as she launched her new women in tech taskforce
Liz Kendall has branded Nigel Farage’s attacks on hiring workers from diverse backgrounds “ignorant” and “unambitious” as she launched her new women in tech taskforce.
The Technology Secretary said tech is going to “transform every aspect” of society and called for women to have the “same opportunities, chances and choices as men”.
The Cabinet minister hit out at the Reform UK leader, who has previously criticised “the lunacies of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) policy”.
Ms Kendall unveiled her women in tech taskforce at Labour ’s annual conference, where she vowed that Britain’s future would not “be shaped by the Tech Bros in Silicon Valley but our Tech Sisters – right here, in the UK”. Its job will be to identify and dismantle barriers to education, training and career progression.
READ MORE: Children face two-hour social media cap or restrictions at school, minister signals
The first taskforce meeting, held at the British Science Association in London on Monday, brought together leading industry figures, including Revolut’s chief executive Francesca Carlesi, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering Dr. Hayaatun Sillem and BT Group’s chief executive Allison Kirkby.
Men outnumber women four to one in computer science degrees, with women less likely to enter tech, stay in the sector, or rise to leadership. Research shows the economy loses an estimated £2–£3.5billion every year because women leave the sector.
Ms Kendall dismissed criticism of diversity programmes from the likes of Mr Farage and vowed to make the tech industry more accessible. “I think women deserve the same chances and choices in life,” she told The Mirror.
“I think people from disadvantaged backgrounds, people from black and minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities, it is essential that everybody has a chance to get on in life, to get the jobs of the future.
“But it is also really critical, especially in tech, that it is shaped by the people who are actually going to use it. I’ve seen that really clearly, especially in areas like health care.”
Asked what she thought about Mr Farage’s comments, Ms Kendall added: “They’re ignorant and they’re unambitious.
“I’m ambitious for this country, ambitious for people to have the choices they deserve. I’m ambitious for our economy. I mean, when we are losing between £2–£3.5billion every single year because women are leaving the tech sector, that is a waste. It’s a waste of talent and a waste of companies’ money.”
The Cabinet minister said that, as well as women deserving equal opportunity, a diverse workforce improves the quality of tech.
Speaking about tech in healthcare, Ms Kendall said: “Take heart attacks or strokes, we know that if you have the models that really reflect how women experience these conditions, you’re more likely to be able to spot them, prevent them, and treat them.
“So I think if tech is developed by people from all different backgrounds, it’s more likely to work. That is really important, because this technology is going to transform every aspect of our work, how we work, how we learn and how we live.
“So women need to have those opportunities to get the jobs of the future, but tech also needs to work for women.”