PUBLIC bodies will be forced to give jobs and promotions on merit instead of favouring certain groups under new Tory plans.
Kemi Badenoch said the Gorton and Denton by-election exposed a surge in separatism, warning voters were being targeted along ethnic and religious lines.
The row grew after the Green Party put out a campaign video partly in Urdu and Bangla – which Ms Badenoch said was “not healthy, not British”.
In a bid to boost integration, she announced her new Cultural and Integration Commission will set out “the culture we want people to assimilate into”, with rulebooks rewritten across schools, policing, welfare and immigration.
Classrooms will ditch grievance-led lessons and teach a single national story, while Lord Young will lead a review to stop “self-censorship”.
The Equality Act will be overhauled so chances are based on merit.
Chris Philp and Nick Timothy will spearhead work targeting Islamist extremism and the conditions that allow separatism to grow.
Ms Badenoch said: “We will end identity politics in the state, full stop.
“No racial preferences.
“Protected characteristics will not be used as criteria for hiring, promotion, admissions, or procurement.
“There will be no more state-sponsored division.
“From now on, every public body will act based on merit and competence, not grievance and quotas.”
