British business figures say many companies in UK and US disguising inclusion policies in face of rightwing attacks

• Corporate diversity policies are under fire from the right – but also from the left

Senior figures in British business have described a chilling effect on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, saying they are being “rebranded” to avoid attracting unwanted political attention.

Five years after the murder of George Floyd in the US shone a spotlight on racial inequality, efforts to create a level playing field in the workplace are facing a rightwing backlash on both sides of the Atlantic.