Blick_UK Politics (9780198825555)_CH10

10.2 How it works 225

80 90 100

20 30 40 50 60 70 Per cent

No Disability

0 10

Disability

England

Wales

FIGURE 10.4  Disabilities in England andWales, 2011 Source: Office for National Statistics, 2015

In terms of sexual orientation, in 2015, 1.7 per cent of people living in the UK reported themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (Office for National Statistics, 2016). Age, too, is a form of identity and one that changes over time, for everyone. As of 2011, 18 per cent of the population were aged 0–14 years; 66 per cent were 15–64; and 16 per cent were aged 65 and above. Social grade Figure 10.5 and Table 10.1 explore the makeup of the UK according to social grade, a system used by opinion re- search professionals, which classifies people according to the chief income earner in their household. From the graphs and data above, we see that the UK has a diverse profile, with characteristics differing according to migration patterns and other factors. But why is diversity and identity relevant to politics? We will see in the next sections that the presence or possession of certain characteristics can lead to discrimination and affect political power, and that political action and legislation is needed to promote equality. 10.2.2 Promoting equality Some groups in society are subject to discrimination or experience disadvantages related to their characteristics. This point was highlighted during the 2020 coronavirus emergency when there was clear evidence that groups such as black people, women, and people with a disabil- ity, already likely to be in a less privileged position than others, suffered disproportionately, either from the dis- ease itself, its impact, or measures taken in response to it.

A 4%

E 10%

B 23%

D 15%

C2 20%

C1 28%

FIGURE 10.5  Social grade distribution in the UK, 2016 Source: National Readership Survey, 2016

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Mechanisms exist intended to protect them and to pro- mote social equality, including legal measures. The legal framework in this area has developed over a long period of time (see How did we get here? 10.1). This protracted period of development demonstrates that such measures can take time to come into being, often involving long-term political campaigning by those in favour of change. It also shows that legislating for equality is an ongoing process, and pressure is always likely to develop for more change (see In Practice 10.1 and 10.2). The central equality law in the UK today, encompassing all the areas covered in How did we get here? 10.1, is the Equality Act 2010 (see Chapter 5). It consolidated existing legislation in this area and added new protections. The Act introduced ‘protected characteristics’, of age, disabil- ity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, prohib-