Hair Discrimination

Early day motion 1005, tabled 12 October 2020 by Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 17 members.

That this House believes that hair policies enforced by schools and employers either officially or unofficially are an all-too-prevalent form of racial discrimination; notes with alarm cases of black children being sent home from school because of their afros, black boys being told to cut off their dreadlocks, black women being turned down for jobs because they wear their hair in braids or cornrows, and black employees being told to chemically straighten their natural hair; calls on the Government to develop new guidance for schools and employers to prevent hair discrimination in policies and practices; further calls on the Government to launch an awareness campaign to help schools and employers understand their obligations not to discriminate in relation to hair, and to help individuals understand how to uphold their rights not to be discriminated against; and urges the Government to conduct a review to determine whether any further changes, including legal changes, are necessary to prevent hair discrimination.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 9, Labour 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Alliance 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Scottish National Party 1.