Labour last night scrapped its annual women’s conference rather than face legal challenges and protests if it continued to admit transgender women.
The party’s governing body was attacked by both women’s rights campaigners and transgender activists over the decision as it wrestled with the consequences of the landmark Supreme Court ruling on single-sex services.
Meanwhile, in a parliamentary debate on Monday, four Labour MPs called for transgender people to be allowed to ‘self-identify’ as the opposite sex, revealing the depth of opposition within the party to the judgment, despite ministers saying they will abide by it.
A Labour Party spokesman said: ‘Labour must ensure all party procedures comply with the Supreme Court’s clear ruling. Labour is clear that everyone in our society deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.’
At a meeting of Labour’s National Executive Committee yesterday, members voted to rewrite policies aimed at boosting women’s involvement in politics on the basis of the court ruling, so that they apply only to those born female and no longer include men who identify as women.
Background papers warned: ‘To do otherwise would expose the party to significant risk of direct and indirect discrimination claims succeeding.’
But the NEC also agreed to indefinitely postpone this year’s National Women’s Conference, a day-long event with speeches from leading MPs, due to be held in September, rather than let it go ahead with a ban on trans women.
A Labour Party spokesman said: ‘Labour must ensure all party procedures comply with the Supreme Court’s clear ruling’
For Women Scotland directors Susan Smith (left) and Marion Calder (right) celebrate April’s landmark ruling that sex is biological
Background papers said there was a ‘significant risk of legal challenge to the event as it currently operates’ and warned: ‘There may be protests and heightened security risks to staff and attendees should the event go ahead.’
Labour Women’s Declaration said: ‘We’re pleased that the party has at long last decided to follow the advice we have been giving them since 2019 and to comply with the 2010 Equality Act.
‘And it’s right that all the party’s positive action measures to support women’s representation and participation will now be for women only.
‘But, having finally confirmed the correct basis for participation in women’s structures in the party, the cancellation of this women’s conference is ridiculous and unnecessary.’
Labour For Trans Rights said: ‘It is a blatant attack on trans rights and is seemingly an attempt to isolate trans people.’
