Cults and new religions to be protected under discrimination

As the government’s Equality Bill is put through its final paces, amendments could see ‘niche’ groups, such as vegans and Scientologists, offered the same discrimination rights as religious societies.

The legislation, championed by Equality Minister Harriet Harman, could place countless individuals under the umbrella of protection, including Atheists, and the government feels the Bill will protect the modernised views of British people.

“A belief need not include faith or worship of a god or gods, but must affect how a person lives their life or perceives the world,” reads the law.

A code of practice explaining the legal implications of the Bill has been drafted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), singling out vegans as an example of a currently marginalised troupe.

“This is about someone for whom being vegan or vegetarian is central to who they are. This is not something ‘thought up by the commission’,” added an EHRC spokesman.

“Parliament makes the law, the courts interpret it and the commission offers factual and proportionate guidance to organisations where necessary. We are providing guidance on the implications of the equality bill.”

The changes will also pull protection in line with recent case law. In late 2009, a landmark court ruling deemed that climate change was a “philosophical belief” and therefore deserved protection. The new legislation has followed suit, protecting “any religious belief” or “philosophical belief” and even “a lack of belief.”

The draft code, currently under consultation, hopes to ring-fence any ideas of spiralling views on religion and belief by stating that beliefs “must attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance” to gain protection.

If you need help updating your employment contracts, policies or handbooks contact Gareth Dando on 01484 558 060 or email gareth.dando@ramsdens.co.uk.