If data is worth collecting, then surely it is worth collecting properly. As a scientist I’d argue that unreliable data is worse than no data at all. At least if there is nothing recorded, then there is nothing to mislead. On one of the most basic categories of all – sex – it seems that official records are all over the place.
According to Sullivan’s review, ‘gender’ – whatever that is – started to replace sex in the 1990s
Readers of The Spectator are probably well aware of the issues already, but Professor Alice Sullivan – Head of Research at the UCL Social Research Institute – has led a review into the mess that society has found itself in. Previously, in these pages, she discussed the impact of dodgy data in the 2021 Census. The outworkings highlighted in her review – published yesterday by the government – are serious on an individual level.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in