Class Dismissed? Implications of the Socioeconomic Duty Coming Into Force

Date and Time

Thursday 17th September 2026, 4pm – 5pm

Venue

Zoom

About the Event

Alongside the announcement of the new Class Unit, the Minister for Women and Equalities (Brigit Philipson MP) has stated that the socioeconomic duty in ss1-3 of the Equality Act 2010 will be brought into force. The Minister has stated that ‘We have been squeamish about class for too long’.

Applying to ‘decisions of a strategic nature’ about the exercise of functions, the duty requires due regard to the desirability of exercising them in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage.

Steve Broach KC, Benjamin Tankel and Eleanor Leydon will discuss and debate the implications of the socioeconomic duty for both prospective claimants and public authorities, including consideration of the extent to which the case law on the PSED (EA 2010 s 149) will be relevant to cases under the new duty.

Webinar Recording