Britain's public sector is spending £70million a year on diversity officers.

An audit of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) taxpayers' spending across the NHS, the police and councils has revealed the amount of money being spent on the controversial roles.

It comes as Keir Starmer's Government have been criticised over its large hospital waiting lists, crime surges and poor public transport.

Over half of this ballooning bill is spent on DEI roles in the NHS, amounting to £40million each year, according to a Mail investigation.

Approximately 1.8million is spent on staff events, including talks entitled "Embracing Asexuality" and "International Pronouns Day".

Despite the short funding in the national health service, a recent NHS diversity role advertised a salary of £122,000 annually, enough to pay for up to three new junior doctors.

Just one police force spends £1.2million on diversity roles and related training, despite the same force recently complaining about strict budgets.

Newham Council in London has just imposed a nine per cent council tax rise on its residents whilst paying the head of diversity a salary of up to £71,412.

Britain's public sector is spending £70million a year on diversity officers

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This figure is around double the average nurse's salary in London.

The candidate successful for the role describes her interests as "black women’s issues, the politics of beauty and desirability, and the intersection of race, gender and fatphobia".

When raising the council tax, Newham Council promised the extra funds would be used "protecting essential services, supporting the most vulnerable and delivering real improvements to residents’ lives."

The now bankrupt Labour-run Birmingham City Council hired an "Assistant Director Community Services and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion", just one year before busting.

Over half of this ballooning bill is spent on DEI roles in the NHS

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The role was paid over £100,000 a year.

According to the NHS representative body, the NHS Confederation, the spending is "Far from being a drain", adding: "EDI is an investment that can improve workforce wellbeing."

DEI roles have faced public criticism from politicians from the Labour Party, Reform UK and the Conservatives

Speaking on these positions within the NHS, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting described some of the work as "misguided" and said that "ideological hobby horses need to go".

Nigel Farage and the Reform UK party have repeatedly criticised DEI roles within the public sector, including the NHS, calling them "divisive" and "wasteful".

DEI roles have faced public criticism from politicians from the Labour Party, Reform UK and the Conservatives

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Reform said they would scrap the roles to save money and shift the focus to frontline services.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, called many such initiatives a "waste of time and money," asserting they are often ineffective and counterproductive.

An NHS spokesman said: "While it is right the NHS supports its staff at a time when antisemitism and other discriminatory behaviour is on the rise, these programmes must offer value for money and improve patient care."

A Government Spokesman said: "Every pound spent of taxpayer money must deliver for the public - putting more police on the streets, cutting NHS waiting lists or investing in the front line.

"We expect all public organisations to fully scrutinise their spending to ensure value for money."