Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone is no doubt happy with her new brief but I’m disappointed to see that one of her big pre-election ideas, that job applicants should be anonymous, has yet to be put forward.
Featherstone, who, in the 1960s, would have been one foxy chick, said in May last year that job applicants should be anonymous as it would reduce the risk that some would be discriminated against. Needless to say the hard-hearted HR community – now there’s a thought – dismissed the idea but I must say it had my backing, if only because of the law of unintended consequences.
I’d rather hoped that once Ms Featherstone gained a bit of power she would have once more raised this estimable idea. Alas and alack – despite trilling about gay rights – nothing has passed her lips that I’m aware of about job applicant anonymity.
Perhaps she could take a leaf out of the late John Lennon’s book. Back in 1969, when the world was fab and I’m sure Lynne was too, Lennon and his missus Yoko One were trundling around proclaiming the world should “give peace a chance”, and coming out with various bizarre suggestions and stunts.
One such was John and Yoko’s “baggism” demonstration where they suggested everyone should wear a bag over their body so they wouldn’t be judged by their race or appearance.
Wouldn’t it be more than fab if La Featherstone re-ignited her anonymity idea and added to it John and Yoko’s bag suggestion?
Ralph Savage
Tim Evershed
John Charlton
Interesting points John; although your continued reference to Lynne’s foxiness might cloud an otherwise authoritative comment!