Lawyer called by Kemi Badenoch to check equality watcher's 'witch hunt'

Several board members wrote to Kemi Badenoch saying they had lost confidence in the decisions made by Lady Faulkner's deputies. Photo: Holly Adams/

Bloomberg

Kemi Badenoch contacted KC to check on the progress of the alleged «witch hunt» at the equality watchdog following the board revolt.

Ms Badenoch, Business Secretary and Minister for Equality, asked the senior counsel to look into how the claims against Baroness Faulkner, who chairs the Equality and Human Rights Commission, were handled.

This step was taken after , as several members of the board wrote to Mrs. Badenoch stating that they had lost confidence in the decisions made by Lady Faulkner's deputies who oversaw the peer investigation.

Last week, The Telegraph reported that the investigation into Lady Faulkner was suspended for the second time due to the intervention of the business secretary.

It is understandable that she expressed concern that the decision to reopen the investigation became known. on Channel 4 after a dossier of allegations of «intimidation», «harassment» and «discrimination» compiled by EHRC government officials was handed over to the broadcaster in May.

Ms. Badenoch's intervention came after most of the remaining board members signed a letter to the government stating that they intended to call on Alasdair Henderson and Eryl Bess to step down from their roles as Lady Faulkner's deputies.

Baroness Faulkner, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Photo: Jeff Pugh

The letter was sent in response to the decision to reopen the investigation, despite the fact that no evidence was presented to the board members at the time that Mr. Henderson, barrister, and Ms. Bess, attorney, sought legal advice about whether the hostile leaks of allegations against Lady Faulkner hurt the investigation.

Board members told Mrs Badenoch that they «no longer trust» the decisions made by Mr Henderson and Ms Bess.

Mrs Badenoch understandable. ask KC to look into the progress of the investigation against Lady Faulkner before writing to the commission to reopen the investigation.

Last week, an EHRC source called the investigation a «witch hunt from the outside at the very beginning», asking why the claims to Lady Faulkner could not be dealt with “through mediation or any internal process that does not involve lawyers.”

An EHRC spokesperson said: “When investigating issues, the EHRC follows its clear management processes and seeks all legal advice and listens to them.

“We cannot comment on the specifics of this investigation, other than to confirm that a decision has been made to pause again. process while related issues are considered.”