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"We're seeing some UK organisations reposition or re-evaluate their EDI initiatives and metrics," says Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD.

A spokesperson for BT said the changes do not represent a rollback on the company's EDI commitments.

Speaking on Saturday Edi Rama declared the proposed ban would start in January.

As part of the new legislation, clubs will be "required to be transparent and publish what action they are taking" to improve EDI.

The prime minister also discussed the model with Albanian counterpart Edi Rama during a summit of European leaders in July, when he said he wanted to "look at what works".