Carry on using chairman: Kwasi Kwarteng blocks bid to stop firms using what campaigners claim is an ‘outdated’ word in company registration documents
- Business leaders claim the word ‘chairman’ is a barrier to professional women
- British Chambers of Commerce wrote to ministers saying the term is ‘outdated’
- Lobby groups called on Government to change the term to gender-neutral ‘chair’
- Whitehall sources dismissed the suggestion as a ‘woke’ waste of time
A senior cabinet minister yesterday blocked a bid by British business groups to force companies to stop using the word ‘chairman’.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng rejected the demands of lobby groups, including the British Chambers of Commerce and the Confederation of British Industry, who said that ‘chairman’ is an ‘outdated’ term.
The groups called on the Government to change the term to the gender-neutral ‘chair’ in records filed with Companies House, where companies operating in Britain must register.
They also suggested the use of the word was preventing women and young girls from ‘achieving their ambitions’.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng rejected lobby groups’ demands that the word ‘chairman’ be banned from use
But Whitehall sources dismissed the suggestion as a ‘woke’ waste of time while energy prices spiral and a war is ongoing in Europe.
In a letter to the Government, the business leaders said the change would not be a ‘silver bullet’, but it would send a signal to future generations.
BCC chairman Sarah Howard said: ‘It’s a small but very significant alteration that will help break down subconscious bias and send a clear message to future generations that they have an equal role to play in running businesses whatever their gender identity.’
But John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs, said it was ‘ludicrous’ to suggest the word ‘chairman’ was stopping women from succeeding in business.
Mr Hayes said: ‘This is preposterous nonsense from people who should know better.
‘These people at the BCC have clearly got an agenda which has no relevance or value to British businesses.
‘They should jettison this without delay. A chair is something you sit on, a chairman is somebody you respect.’
Companies can already choose to make the change as they draft their own articles of association, while forcing the change would require legislation to go through Parliament.
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said the Government ‘wholeheartedly’ supports increasing the diversity of business leaders.
The spokesman said: ‘Companies already have the flexibility to craft their own articles, and to amend articles as they see fit.’
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