Ofcom quits Stonewall LGBT+ scheme over ‘risk of perceived bias’

Ofcom headquarters in London. It said it was confident it can “move ahead positively, without continuing with [Stonewall’s] Diversity Champions programme”. Photograph: Graham Turner/The Guardian

Ofcom has announced its withdrawal from a diversity scheme run by LGBT+ charity Stonewall.

The communications regulator said in a statement it has withdrawn from the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme because of “the need to remain impartial and independent at all times” and because taking part “poses a conflict or risk of perceived bias”.

The Diversity Champions scheme was launched by Stonewall in 2001 and has worked with a large number of organisations to promote diversity and make workplaces more inclusive for LGBT+ people.

Other organisations including the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Cabinet Office have also quit the scheme in recent months. Explaining its decision not to renew its membership, an EHRC spokesperson said the programme “did not constitute the best value for money”.

Stonewall describes the scheme, which works with more than 900 organisations in the UK, as “the leading employers’ programme for ensuring all LGBTQ+ staff are free to be themselves in the workplace”.

In a statement, Ofcom said it was confident it can “move ahead positively, without continuing with the Diversity Champions programme”.

It added that in recent months there has been “significant scrutiny of some of Stonewall’s policy positions”.

“As the communications regulator, an important part of our responsibility [is] to ensure we remain impartial and independent at all times … Stepping back from the diversity champions programme, in light of this, is the right thing to do.”

Ofcom confirmed it will still participate in Stonewall’s Equality Index, where organisations are ranked on their employment policies and “progress on LGBT equality”.

A Stonewall spokesperson said: “We respect Ofcom’s decision and will continue to work with them in their role as the UK’s communication regulator.

“It is sad, however, that involvement in a programme that supports an inclusive workplace for LGBTQ+ employees should be in any way regarded as an unimpartial act.

“As with every membership programme, organisations come and go depending on what works best for their inclusion journey at the time, and we’re very proud of the work we’ve done with Ofcom and wish them the best in their ongoing efforts to support all of their LGBTQ+ employees.”