Following announcements that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is about to face 60% budget cuts, Trevor Phillips yesterday gave a speech arguing that equality and human rights are essential to economic recovery. Making the speech at Policy Exchange, a right-wing thinktank, Phillips also argued that critics of the fairness agenda “are just plain wrong”, adding that the electorate want fairness “even in a time of austerity”.

In particular, he stated that he wants to tackle “fear” among some business people that equality legislation is a barrier to employing disadvantaged groups, saying that [the EHRC] want to make it a competitive advantage to be fair and inclusive." He also said that "equality is not a burden to the nation. It is part of what Britain expects. It is part of doing the right thing in our modern society”.

He also criticized those who approach equality policy from more extreme positions, stating that whilst those “fighting the phantom armies of Political Correctness” need to understand that they’ve lost the argument, those who believe “we are still in the days of Alf Garnett's imagination” need to realise that times have changed.

Phillips also waded into the increasingly polarising debate on multiculturalism triggered by David Cameron’s weekend speech on Islamic extremism, stating that he does not agree with those who believe the Prime Minister was wrong to speak on the issue. He also criticized Shadow Justice Minister Sadiq Khan’s statement that the speech was tantamount to “writing propaganda for the English Defence League”, saying that he “would not have used Sadiq's words and [doesn’t] agree with his sentiments”.

He also downplayed the forthcoming cuts to the EHRC, saying that the commission is taking a hit along “with everyone else in public service”, adding that the he does not believe the commission is facing cuts “any bigger than anywhere else”.

However, the Guardian reported yesterday that these comments drew fury from staff at the organisation, some of whom have written a open letter to EHRC commissioners expressing "deep concerns" about the cuts and warning that 200 jobs will be lost from their 400-plus workforce.