According to The Telegraph, the Ministry of Defence has 93 various diversity sites where employees can discuss race, gender, and psychological health.
Seven workers networks—groups for civil servants and members of the military forces—discuss issues related to diversity, while fourteen focus on racial and gender issues and ten on LGBT issues.
The organizations promote diversity-related events throughout the forces, distribute diversity advice, and post posters.
The Defence Neuro Inclusivity Network, Defence Stammering Networks, and Defence Epilepsy Network are just a few of the MoD’s 20 disability-focused team networks, compared to the Home Office’s 19 and the Ministry of Justice’s 18.
In an effort to preserve its objectivity, John Glen, the secretary of the Cabinet Office, ordered a review into legal services diversity networks last month.
He claimed that the network’s operational principles were unclear. To tell and understand how they operate, he said, “that’s why we want to issue new direction.”
The Army wants to ease security screenings for foreign recruits in order to increase diversity, according to The Sunday Telegraph.
It has been suggested that security clearance requirements for foreign candidates may be questioned in the midst of a recruitment crisis, particularly among candidates from racial minorities, in order to increase representation within the intelligence and officer corps.
Transgender Day of Visibility has been promoted by some of the MoD’s diversity sites.
The Army LGBT+ Network “facilitated a meeting of people of the Army’s Trans Community” for Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2023, according to an article posted on the MoD network.
The network’s post stated that “the current toxic tone in advertising, social & cultural conversation is affecting our persons.” Additionally, there are still instances of active and passive transphobia (and homophobia) occurring in our service.
“The Army Trans Day of Visibility will only be required until diverse behaviors become ingrained in the body memory, society, and minds of all of its members,” the post concluded.
The Telegraph quoted Conservative MP Richard Drax as saying, “What we need is an army that is prepared to fight, not wondering what they should call each other or what sex they are.”
“I am horrified by the level of wokeness that has crept into our Armed Forces, which lowers morale and reduces effectiveness.
“Having served in the Army, I know that our only concern was whether the person to our left and right could complete the task.
The issue with this emphasis on diversity is that it fosters division where none exists. Political correctness on the scale the DT has uncovered is ridiculous when you consider the very real threats we face around the world, but I want to make it clear that prejudice is unethical and must be dealt with properly.” He said, “I’m sure our enemies are trembling in their boots with fear.”
The Telegraph has seen banners created by the Royal Navy’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression Network for LGBT sailors that have been posted on signage.
One of these posters describes the 51 “most frequently used” terms related to LGBT issues, including “LGBPTTQQIAA+,” which is defined as “any combination of letters attempting to reflect all the names of the gay community. This nearly complete term (but it is not complete) represents Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual.
The Royal Navy Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression Network, the RAF Allies Network and the MoD Race Network are a few of the organizations that make up the update parties.
Defence networks “bring employees with mutual characteristics, such as gender, race, and sexual orientation together to host” conferences and events” and work on “social and development opportunities [and] mentoring,” according to the Army’s Inclusive Behaviours guidance, which was released in June 2022.
According to Taxpayers’ Alliance research, between 2019 and 2022, £309,090 of taxpayers’ money was used to support 187 staff networks across 12 government departments, excluding the Ministry of Defence.
“Are you an ally?” a banner from the Royal Navy Inclusion Allies community asks sailors. “In response to marginalized groups.”
“What are Neo Pronouns and Why Do They Matter?” was the title of a MoD blog post published in October 2023 by the RAF’s Gender Network in honor of International Pronouns Day.
The RAF community defined these as “pronouns that were instantly created or adapted within the language instead of evolving with it.” The post wrote, “it can be uncomfortable or harassing to guess at someone’s pronouns,” and pointed to examples of “neopronouns.”
The Ministry of Defence was contacted for comment.
