A local council in the UK has defended its decision to offer extra consideration for ethnic minorities in the recruitment process for a vacant job role. Despite opposition councillors claiming it’s unfair, Westminster City Council has defended their hiring policies, claiming they align with industry protocols and adhere to UK employment legislation.
This reaction comes after posting an advert for an executive assistant which stated that if two candidates were equally qualified, preference would be given to someone from an underrepresented group.
Council opposition leader Paul Swaddle condemned the implication of the job advert, which suggest that certain applicants might get preferential treatment, and he pledged to fight this approach if his party regains control of the council in 2026, reports MyLondon. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he argued: “That is wrong. All candidates should be judged on merit alone.”
He vowed, “If we win back control of the council in 2026 I will ensure we welcome applications from all parts of society and appoint solely on merit.” Moreover, he criticised the wording of the advert as being neither suitable nor ‘standard’.
Westminster City councillor Paul Swaddle. Supplied
(Image: Supplied)
According to Government guidance issued to employers in 2023, the Equality Act endorses employers to provide special assistance to individuals with protected characteristics including race, sex, or sexual orientation to ‘level the playing field’. The guidance states: “You can take proportionate action that aims to reduce disadvantage, meet different needs and increase participation.”
The job advert, posted on X by Councillor Swaddle, stated that Westminster City aimed to increase staff diversity by encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. In particular, it welcomed applicants from ‘global majority’, referring to individuals from Black, Asian, or Brown communities.
The advert read: “While the role is open to all applicants, we will utilise the positive action provision of the Equality Act 2010 to appoint candidates from a global majority background where there is a choice between two candidates of equal merit.”
Councillor Cem Kemahli from the neighbouring Kensington and Chelsea Council claimed the advert was ‘simply racism’. He questioned the label he should use to identify himself, saying: “As a Brit/Turk am I Asian? Dual-heritage? Or Global South? I can’t keep up with which label the left would want to use to define me.”
A spokesperson for Westminster City Council clarified their recruitment policy was standard and compliant with UK employment law. They said: “Westminster City Council’s recruitment policies are industry standard, entirely consistent with UK employment law and have been in place for a number of years.
“In keeping with many public sector and private companies, we are committed to ensuring global majority candidates can compete for a range of roles and actively promote ourselves as an employer committed to equity and inclusion. This role will be offered in open and fair competition as is every other role advertised by the council.”