Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has launched a scathing attack on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, labelling his criticism of hiring from diverse backgrounds as "ignorant" and "unambitious" for Britain.
New Taskforce Aims to Shatter Tech's Glass Ceiling
The Cabinet minister unveiled her new women in tech taskforce at the Labour Party's annual conference, declaring that the UK's future must be shaped by "our Tech Sisters – right here, in the UK" rather than solely by Silicon Valley's 'Tech Bros'.
The group, which held its inaugural meeting at the British Science Association in London on Monday, includes top industry leaders such as Revolut CEO Francesca Carlesi, Royal Academy of Engineering CEO Dr. Hayaatun Sillem, and BT Group's chief executive Allison Kirkby.
Its core mission is to identify and dismantle barriers facing women in education, training, and career progression within the technology sector.
A £3.5bn Economic Drain and a Diversity Deficit
Kendall highlighted stark statistics to underscore the urgency of the taskforce's work. Currently, men outnumber women four to one in computer science degrees. Women are also less likely to enter the tech industry, remain in it, or ascend to leadership roles.
This exodus and lack of representation comes at a severe economic cost. Research indicates the UK economy loses an estimated £2 billion to £3.5 billion annually because women leave the tech sector.
"When we are losing between £2–£3.5 billion every single year because women are leaving the tech sector, that is a waste," Kendall told The Mirror. "It's a waste of talent and a waste of companies' money."
Clash Over DEI and the Case for Inclusive Innovation
The minister's comments served as a direct rebuttal to Nigel Farage, who has previously criticised what he termed "the lunacies of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) policy."
Dismissing this view, Kendall argued that diversity is not just a moral imperative but a commercial and innovative necessity. "I think people from disadvantaged backgrounds, people from black and minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities, it is essential that everybody has a chance to get on in life, to get the jobs of the future," she stated.
She provided a powerful example from healthcare technology, explaining that AI models designed to detect heart attacks or strokes are more effective when they reflect how women experience these conditions.
"So I think if tech is developed by people from all different backgrounds, it's more likely to work," Kendall asserted. "That is really important, because this technology is going to transform every aspect of our work, how we work, how we learn and how we live."
Concluding her defence of proactive diversity measures, the Technology Secretary framed the issue as one of national ambition: "I'm ambitious for this country, ambitious for people to have the choices they deserve. I'm ambitious for our economy."
