Middle-class white men BANNED from taxpayer-funded body’s internship

WATCH NOW: Krish Kandiah discusses 'woke education'

|

GB NEWS

Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 06/06/2026

- 15:46

Updated: 06/06/2026

- 15:51

Successful applicants on the 'anti-white' programme can earn up to £27,000 in London

Middle-class white men have been banned from applying for a taxpayer-funded body's student internship.

The National Audit Office (NAO), the UK's public spending watchdog, uses Britons' levies to bankroll a "diversity work experience programme".


Only women, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those with black heritage are allowed to throw their hat in the ring.

As a result, white middle-class men have been sidelined for the six-week-long internship which hands out a pro-rated salary of £25,089 each year - or £27,000 for the London internship.

Reform UK's Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf told the Telegraph "blatant discrimination" had been exhibited in the Newcastle internship application system.

Running from June 15 until July 24, the scheme is targeted towards those looking to launch a career in accounting, seeking to educate students in their penultimate year of study.

The role of the public-funded body is to examine spending by Whitehall departments as well as agencies, including the NHS and the BBC, to ensure fiscal efficiency.

Over the course of 2025/2026, the Office demanded a budget of a staggering £111million.

Zia Yusuf

Zia Yusuf condemned the 'anti-white' internship

|

GETTY

The scheme seeks to enhance students' understanding of their work, including financial audit and identifying value for money.

"A Government department barring white men from applying for an internship is blatant discrimination," Mr Yusuf said.

"Jobs and opportunities should be awarded on merit, not handed out or withheld on the basis of race or sex – young people deserve a fair chance to succeed regardless of their background."

He argued the internship was "anti-white, anti-merit ideology masquerading as diversity and inclusion".

NAO London Office

The internships are held in Newcastle and London

|

GETTY/GOOGLE

The former Head of Policy declared that Reform UK would axe such "discriminatory schemes" and roll out equal treatment instead.

As part of the paid internship, the advert says the students will "work with different colleagues, helping (them) to expand (their) professional network and shadow auditors in their day-to-day work".

They will undertake "crucial" research and fieldwork for the audits and investigation, and invited to attend "exciting" training courses to educate them on Government, assurance and Parliament.

It added: "If you are interested in developing your skills in a professional, supportive environment and gaining insight into a career in public sector accounting, we encourage you to apply."

Last year, widespread anger was fuelled after it was revealed Britain's security services, including MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, opened itself up to the "woke" diversity schemes.

An NAO spokesman said: "Our long-running diversity internship schemes offer valuable work experience in the audit sector.

"The internship opens doors to people who are under-represented in the sector including anyone from less affluent backgrounds."

White British students not being allowed to apply for the summer internship programme for the UK intelligence services is "downright offensive", security expert Professor Anthony Glees told GB News.

Speaking on GB News, he said the diversity policy is not the only concern he has about the recruitment drive.

Prof Glees said that he felt opening up Britain’s intelligence services via an internship programme poses a "national security risk".

Speaking to Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce, he explained: “This is completely bonkers. When I first saw this story, I thought it was a joke. I thought it was made up.