Equality and the golden showers of tax avoidance

This week someone drew my attention to one of the 'Big Four' of the UK's accountancy consultancies announcing the launch of a National Equality Standard.  Hailed as a 'groundbreaking initiative' it is a tool for the business world and claims it fills a gap because there has been no industry recognised standard for equality, diversity and inclusion.

For those who doubt the accuracy of my reporting, read the web site statement for yourself here.

Ernst & Young have developed and sponsored the national equality standard with 18 other UK and global companies.  It is supported by the Equality & Human Rights Commission.  It just keeps getting better, doesn't it ?  Those of us devoting years to slaying the dragons of inequality can all pack up and go home.  Ernst & Young have got it sorted.

Or have they.

No evidence is offered of the EHRC backing, supporting or endorsing the national equality standard for business.

No mention is made on the EHRC web site of this must-have tool for business.

No evidence is offered that the tool requires the deep, permanent involvement of people from the equality communities to change the daily lived experiences of prejudice, discrimination and barriers encountered by people when using services provided by the private sector.  And when you look at the graphics [below] used on the Ernst & Young web site, you might find a clue.

There are no people.  No people going in or out of the business entrance doors.  No people even passing by in the street.  Just how this is supposed to project a sense of private sector business being open to and ready to meet the different needs of a diverse population is deeply puzzling.

Given the current debate around the minimalist tax bills paid by such as Amazon, Google, Starbucks and the rest, it does seem strange that one of the 'Big Four', who helps business minimise tax bills and so leave the rest of us pay more tax to make up the shortfall, should be interested in equality at all.  Their core business is the very deliberate creation and protection of inequalities in the distribution of wealth.  It is only a few months ago that Ernst & Young agreed to settle a court case in the US and pay a fine of $123 million for the promotion of abusive tax shelters to rich individuals.  

I have asked both Ernst & Young and the EHRC for evidence of their partnership in what feels suspiciously like yet another golden shower from the private sector.

In just under 24 hours since posting this blog, the EHRC senior press officer has confirmed :

"we support the initiative".

Not only has the EHRC sold its soul cheaply, it has paved the way for government to hand over what little work it really wants done on equality to the private sector and wind up the toothless, heartless and now soulless Commission.