Stephenson to take over at equality watchdog even though committees raised concerns about breadth of experience
Mary-Ann Stephenson has been confirmed as the new chair of the equalities watchdog, after the government overruled the objections of parliament’s equalities committee over her suitability for the job.
Stephenson, the chair of the Women’s Budget Group, will take on the role at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in December. It includes responsibility for implementing guidance about transgender rights after the supreme court judgment on the definition of a woman.
The women and equalities committee and the joint committee on human rights had together raised objections about the appointment, saying her experience was not sufficient in the area of protected characteristics such as race and disability.
The committees, chaired by Sarah Owen and David Alton, had written to the equalities minister Bridget Phillipson saying: “It is clear that Dr Stephenson has extensive academic credibility in the field of women’s rights and has an important contribution to make to public life.
