Ministry of Defence has 93 diversity networks for staff

THE Ministry of Defence (MOD) has 93 different diversity networks for personnel to discuss race, gender and mental health, The Telegraph can reveal.

The staff networks, which are groups for civil servants and those serving in the Armed Forces to discuss issues around diversity, include seven for LGBT issues, 14 for race issues and 10 for gender issues. The groups issue diversity guidance, display posters and celebrate diversity related events across the forces.

The Home Office has 19 formal staff networks and the Ministry of Justice has 18, while the MOD has 20 focused on disability issues alone including the Defence Neuro Inclusivity Network, Defence Stammering Network and the Defence Epilepsy Network. Last month

John Glen, the Cabinet Office minister, ordered a review into Civil Service diversity networks as a part of a drive to maintain its impartiality.

He said confusion existed around how the networks operate. “That’s why we want to i ssue new guidance to inform and clarify how they work,” he said.

Yesterday, The Telegraph revealed that the Army wants to relax security checks for recruits from overseas to boost diversity. Amid a recruitment crisis, especially among candidates from ethnic minorities, it has been suggested that security clearance requirements for overseas candidates could be challenged to improve representation in the intelligence and officer corps.

Richard Drax, the Conservative MP, said: “What we need is an army that is ready to fight, not wonder what they should call each other or what gender they are. I am appalled at the level of wokeness that has infiltrated our Armed Forces which damages morale and weakens effectiveness.

“Having served in the Army, I know that all we cared about was whether the man or woman to our left and right could do the job.”

The Ministry of Defence was approached for comment.