Esther McVeigh vows to ban rainbow shoelaces in public service

Ms. McVeigh has launched a crackdown on 'woke' government spending Photo: MARTYN WHEATLEY/I-IMAGES

Rainbow laces will be banned from the public service, Esther McVeigh has said.

The Minister for Common Sense has warned mandarins they should not try to express political views. looks «through the back door» through rainbow laces worn to show support for LGBT rights.

Ms McVey said the government would instead introduce a standard design for all Whitehall staff and departments to show commitment to «an offering for the citizens of the UK.»

Rainbow straps were banned by the Scottish Parliament in March over concerns that their design could lead to accusations of bias.

Speaking to the Center for Policy Research think tank, Ms McVey said: “We want work to be a happy, inclusive place, not a place where division can be created and people feel pressured. I also want very simple but visible changes to occur.

“The lanyards worn for badges should not be a random choice, they should be a standard design that reflects that we are all members of government. providing assistance to British citizens.

“Working in public service means leaving your political views at the door of the building. You shouldn't try to introduce them through the back door with lanyards.»

When asked what would happen if a government employee showed up with a Palestinian flag or a rainbow lanyard, Ms. McVey replied: «Why would you wear that lanyard? The civil service is not political. You don't need visible political activism.»

Consequences

Asked whether there would be consequences for staff flouting the new rules, she said: “That will have to be done by the permanent secretary, she has faith that people will comply and of course we will provide new lanyards for people to wear

“But, like I said, people need to think about why they would do this, and not promote where they work.”

Ms McVeigh's announcement comes as The Telegraph revealed that diversity jobs in the civil service will also be banned as part of her crackdown on 'woke' government spending, meaning there will be no more vacancies in Whitehall , dedicated exclusively to diversity.

Managers will be prohibited from hiring outside diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) contractors, and officials whose responsibilities focus on diversity will be reassigned to another location with greater authority.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former businessman Secretary of State, said he was «fully supportive» of Ms McVey's plans, while Elliot Keck, campaign director for the Taxpayers' Alliance, added: «Esther McVey deserves credit for seemingly going it alone with the leviathan of DEI.»

«And she is absolutely right to get rid of politicized shoelaces that do little but cause controversy while costing taxpayers more.»

Ms McVeigh insisted her party «was quite conservative» during its time in power. but went on to accuse Rishi Sunak's predecessors of «religious zeal.»

«Thank God the Prime Minister has stopped the race to gold-plated net zero and started looking at energy through a prism of pragmatism and cost to society.»

“He is the first political leader to confront the religious fanaticism that has consumed politicians and the public sector, with a tiny minority of extremists such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion exerting too much influence on the energy agenda.”

Praising Mr Sunak for «turning the tide» on the issue by delaying a ban on petrol and diesel cars for five years, the minister said previous political leaders had been «immersed in the ideology» of green activists.

< p > “They set deadlines that seemed to be politically torn, I would say, from a figure hanging in the air. Why 2030 and not 2035? We believe that safety, accessibility and reliability are key… Labor is trying to hit a date they can't hit.»

Ms McVey also called Mr Sunak an «intellectual giant» in response to an audience question which claimed there was a lack of impressive thinkers in the Tory ranks.

And in response to criticism of the government over visa tightening for international students, she said: «These cuts to the number of immigrants are so large that he has made that universities are now complaining that their finances are overstretched due to the serious drop in the number of international students they are seeing.»

“I have no sympathy. For too long these universities have been selling international students on immigration rather than education, and the Prime Minister is right to end that.»

Last year, Mr Sunak banned international students other than those doing doctoral research. jobs, from bringing dependents to them in the UK.

Ms McVey was appointed a Cabinet minister without portfolio during Mr Sunak's reshuffle in November on an olive branch to the right of the party following the sacking of Suella Braverman as a minister internal affairs.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell University Group, sparked a backlash over Ms McVeigh's remarks about student visas.

He said: “Overseas students are very much valued as part of our university community, not only for their enormous contribution into our local and national economies, but also their significant social and cultural benefits, including long-term soft power on the world stage.

“Imposing further restrictions on them makes no economic sense and will have a direct negative impact on UK students Meanwhile, Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at campaign group Sex Matters, welcomed her move to “recognize the extent of ideological capture in the public service”.

“Some public sector employees have sought to introduce corporate cultures and policies that are outward-looking and hostile to human rights on the basis of gender.

“Efforts to increase diversity and inclusion, while well intentioned, they were supported by activists with fringe causes.”