Donald Trump style culture-war debate erupts during NI council meeting amid ‘trojan horse' concerns
A Donald Trump style culture-war debate erupted over the word 'gender' during a discussion about proposed equality and disability programmes within an NI council district.
Ards and North Down Borough Council voted to amend its proposed equality and disability action plans after the DUP lambasted strategies which act as a 'trojan horse' and display 'divisive virtue signalling'.
Alderman Stephen McIlveen successfully proposed an amendment getting rid of the use of 'gender' as an affected group in the official document which is ready to go out for consultation as well as removing a whole section on promoting inclusive workplaces.
'I am aware these strategies end up as trojan horses. They drift into political or ideological territory, pushing agendas that don't reflect the views of the community,' he said.
'It is our job as a council to deliver services fairly, for everyone, but we shouldn't get tied up in language policing or box ticking exercises that cost money and create division. The public wants to see us delivering services, not getting caught up in divisive virtue signalling.
'We already have to consider equality in every policy, in every decision, and we do. There is no suggestion we are not meeting our responsibilities, and I see no point in adding yet another layer of policy for the sake of appearances.'
The council also removed a stipulation that it would remove 'display assets not in keeping with promoting a good and harmonious work environment' following a fractious debate at the local authority's full monthly meeting at Bangor Castle last week.
The fallout echoed something of the culture wars prevalent in the United States, with the Alliance Party accusing the DUP of 'politicising' equality drives and condemning the use of the acronym 'DEI' being used in the debate.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion refers to organizational frameworks that seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people in the US – the policy has been singled out by Donald Trump, the MAGA movement and the modern Republican party for particular ire.
Mr McIlveen proposed an amendment to the draft Equality and Disability Action Plans 2025-29.
'I propose that we accept the Equality and Disability Action Plans, except in relation to the Section 75 Category Affected column, to remove the word 'gender,' and use wording reflective of what is contained in the legislation. (I propose we) remove Section 6.2 in totality, and remove the wording 'All public access areas and employee workplace areas are free from display assets not in keeping with promoting a good and harmonious work environment' from Section 6.4,' he said.
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act aims to change the practices of government and public authorities so that equality of opportunity and good relations are central to policy making and service delivery.
The alderman's successful amendment withdrew the word 'gender' from all of the groups affected by each council commitment listed in the document.
Section 6.2, now withdrawn, referred to 'promoting an inclusive workplace' and vowed to 'increase efforts to identify and amplify diverse voices and representation within the council to ensure inclusivity and visibility for all members'.
It also aimed for staff to 'attend and actively participate in LGSC's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Ambassadors training and events' and 'conduct an anonymous survey to assess employee values and priorities regarding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, providing insights to enhance workplace culture.'
Section 6.4 of the document refers to 'circulation and workplace areas to be shared spaces for all users'.
The removal of the commitment to take away 'display assets not in keeping with promoting a good and harmonious work environment' partly refers to concerns about potential bids to remove the image of King Charles from the council's new premises.
'I fully support treating everyone fairly and with respect, and I say this as someone who has worked in human rights practice in this country and overseas, as well as having served as the Equalities Commissioner for two terms,' Mr McIlveen said.
'Equality of opportunity is hugely important to me, however I have real concerns with the suggestion in this document that we are essentially agreeing in principle for this council to adopt an equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, something that has been afforded no debate in this chamber.
'While other parties seem content to press ahead with this, I and my party are not. We already have strong equality laws in NI, I believe they merit some improvement in some areas, but we also have Section 45 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, that puts a legal duty on public bodies like this council to promote equality of opportunity and good relations.
'So the law is clear. The requirement to have such a strategy isn't anywhere in legislation, this is something being pushed by the Staff Commission, not by anyone else I am aware of.'
Mr McIlveen continued: 'I would also point out the Section 75 obligations relate to sex, not gender. The use of the word 'gender' in the document is ambiguous, and open to misinterpretation. Section 75 is very clear, as it refers to men and women, in Subsection 1B.
'Similarly I will not be supporting any aim that neutralises the identity of this borough and its people. We have a council that quite rightly granted the Freedom of the Borough to organisations who have served and defended Northern Ireland, and we display the gifts that have been provided to us.
'We proudly wave our Union Flag. Our council chambers have the picture of our monarch. I will not be supporting the creation of a policy that may undermine this council celebrating this council's history, culture and identity.'
Alliance Alderman Martin McRandal said: 'On the first point around gender, and the terminology that is used within the legislation, if that is so, I would have no issue in correcting that to reflect the legislation.
'The second point I do have an issue with. The council is required to comply with equality legislation. This draft document has been prepared by officers with the aim of enabling us to meet our duties under equality legislation. We don't get to pick and choose on that.
'So it is highly inappropriate to politicise the content of the action plan. We agree on an action plan which reflects our duties on the legislation.'
Alliance Councillor Hannah Irwin said: 'I think it is quite ironic to hear about how we should not be politicising policies like this, when that is exactly what the proposal before us sets out to do. Using language such as DEI, in the way in which it has been used, is probably just feeding into a political discourse we are seeing at the minute which isn't, I would imagine, the most healthy.'
The proposal by the DUP passed after a recorded poll.
There were 22 votes in favour, from the DUP, UUP, and Unionist Independents, and 14 votes against, from Alliance, the Greens, the SDLP, and one Independent.
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