The Scottish parliament has withdrawn from Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme, joining other bodies that have distanced themselves from the LGBT charity in recent years.
The programme helps organisations implement diversity and inclusion policies. Employers including the BBC, the Cabinet Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the equality watchdog, have all pulled out of the scheme.
Some organisations have questioned whether the programme provides value for money and others raised concerns about Stonewall’s stance on transgender issues. An independent report commissioned by the University of Essex in 2021 found that Stonewall gave it incorrect and potentially illegal advice on trans issues.
The Scottish parliament said it had withdrawn from the scheme last month after deciding not to renew its annual membership, which costs £3,090
