Phillips appointed head of equality watchdog

The chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, Trevor Phillips, has been appointed as head of a new equality commission.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly announced the appointment of Mr Phillips as the head of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights on Friday.

The body will be a new organisation and will inherit the responsibilities of the existing equality commissions: the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. It will have responsibilities on rights in relation to age, sexual orientation, religion and belief.

The new body will become operational in Autumn 2007. Mr Phillips will hold the £160,000 per year post for three years.

Commenting on the appointment, Mrs Kelly said: "We all want to live in a society where everyone can get on in life irrespective of their background. Whether it is at school, at work or in how different services treat people this sense of fairness is deeply held. The new equality body will be a powerful advocate for a fairer society for many years to come. It will fight for people who face any barriers or discrimination in their lives.

"Trevor Phillips is the best man for the job. He has a proven track record, a wealth of experience and is prepared to tackle the difficult and controversial issues head on. This will be a valuable asset right across the whole equalities."

Mr Phillips said: "We need a society where our origins do not determine our destiny, where the dignity and equal treatment of the individual is unfailing, where the disadvantaged are protected and empowered. Our ambition must be to create a society that is at ease with all aspects of its diversity. Bringing Britain closer to this vision is probably the most exciting task of our time.

"The CEHR will be a modern, creative, open, powerful and above all independent voice for equality and human rights in Britain and internationally."

(KMcA)