could our "protected characteristic" of autism be cancelled?

I didn't see the OP as scaremongering but more of a debate starter. I can see less tolerance in society towards anyone outwith the 'norm' and maybe now is the time to think the unthinkable may just happen. I doubt it will happen in the UK but fear we may be pulled into a slow descent to the bottom.

I think it is unnecessary scaremongering to suggest it will be cancelled.

It just makes people nervous for.no reason.

Cyber.Girl said:

Dei just makes sure everyone gets a fair chance at life and no discrimination 

I think it is the definition of "fair" that is being re-written by the government. They don't like people who are not like them so will consider fair to mean they can be allowed to live to serve the white rich people.

Cyber.Girl said:

Mauritious: You have no right to the chagos islands

That is a long running issue - details for those who are interested are here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagos_Archipelago_sovereignty_dispute

This seems to be  relic of the empire days.

Cyber.Girl said:

So, to me, it just appears that Labour might just be soon copying Trump

Labour can be clearly seen to be adopting populist ideas to try to avoid losing potential voters but the real issue is that it is making the right wing move even further right to differentiate themselves and they will see the headway that the Republicans are making in the US and will try the same here because they have enough supporters wanting it.

The single biggest take away from this is that there are so many people in the UK wanting this sort of behaviour and that scares me.

Lotus said:

I think he talks the talk but rarely walks the walk

That was true in his first term, I think the second term is bearing out that he will actually will walk the walk now especially if he feels properly threatened eg Epstein files or loosing power.  

YhnTrump made no sense there 

"Enforcing DEI policies = infringing on HR" what?? 

The whole idea of DEI is so all are protected, no matter their race, gender, medical condition (I would call Autism a Med condition not a disability hence I used medical condition over disability here - if anyone wants to ask why I don't think it's a disability, I'm more than comfortable to state why) etc, so everyone's rights are protected

Dei just makes sure everyone gets a fair chance at life and no discrimination 

Knowing that UK government has been bowing down to other countries issues, Labour will just follow suit, 

Why do I think this?? 

Mauritious: You have no right to the chagos islands... so we decided to hand them the islands, WITHOUT asking the CI residents. Also, what does this entail for the residents?? Will they now be marutian?? I won't go into any more detail as it's political

Island - You did X to us during the troubles..... UK government prosecutes the SAS and other vets.... 

So, to me, it just appears that Labour might just be soon copying Trump, but then again, I also doubt it, because if labour did? That woulda been a stupid move. So, only time will tell

He could be trying to divert attention away from his "peace deal" for Ukraine which is in reality total capitulation to Russia and will almost certainly not be accepted by anyone except Russia. 

Lotus said:

I think he talks the talk but rarely walks the walk

My biggest concern here is that he has actively persued the DEI cancellation in the US and itt is picking up momentum within the government and military as a starting point and seems to be working its way out to the red states.

Given that the Equality Act is now 15 years old, and disability rights were previously in the Disability Discrimination Act for many years, I think it would be hard to get rid of. Of course, that doesn't mean that Trump doesn't want to.

Iain said:

Countries enforcing race or gender diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies will now be at risk of the Trump administration deeming them as infringing on human rights.

Like Cat woman, I think he talks the talk but rarely walks the walk. The US needs allies and I doubt they'd get into conflict with the UK or Europe. He can have his opinion, but it's up to the governments and people of individual countries to set their own laws and policies.

One thing I'm not sure about though, is what constitutes fairness and equity in recruitment. I did an internet search to find DEI policies and the result I got firstly suggests "blind recruitment" where the details of each candidate are not known to the personnel creating an interview shortlist , but then goes on to recommend actively recruiting from under-represented groups. I'm not quite sure how you can do both?

To my mind, the fairest way of recruiting is to look for the person who is best suited to the post, regardless  of their identity characteristics. The problem is that in some companies you'll have a management who claim to be fair in the recruitment process but that isn't reflected in their workforce (for example, they won't have any foreign workers, no British Black or Asian ones, and the managers are all white males) while in other organisations the recruitment process seems favoured towards diversity, which can lead talented white British people to wonder if they are being overlooked because of their identity. I feel that "equity " can be difficult to judge in these circumstances.

Iain said:

Having said that it could also be part of a smokescreen he is trying to throw up to cover for the Epstein file release that is about to happen.

I think you could be right. He is finally feeling some pressure from those around him and from increasing numbers across the US, so he responds by bullying. 

He loves to get a reaction from the world when he throws out such comments, but the time will come when Europe, the UK and other countries, will be in a stronger position politically and financially, to recommence calling the shots. I think he is on his way out. People are starting to get fed up with him. 

I think he talks a lot of hot air, and dosent' always follow through, we need to watch what he does rather than just what he says, as his mouth seems to have no filter.

I've noticed that he comes out with stuff like this whenever; A, theres something he wants to draw attention away from, and B, he has to be the front page news story. So I think a lot of this is just attention seeking, but the things is, you never know with him? He dosent' like DEI, probably because it's not about him, if being orange was a protected charateristic, then he's be all for it and everyone would have to be orange.

It could also be a sort of appeal to his base, as he's in trouble with many MAGA people, nowhere near as popular as he was and now he's going after people like Marjorie Taylor Green, who's about as MAGA as they come, I think show the wheels are starting to come off. Epstien is all a Democrat hoax and fake news, apparently and after making it such a big part of his election campaign too.