Commons hears pledges on single-sex spaces, trans rights and dignity following Supreme Court ruling
Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson has vowed to uphold the dignity of trans people and protect women-only spaces, following a Supreme Court ruling that has sparked fresh political debate on sex and gender.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Ms Phillipson described the ruling as a “welcome development” that “brings clarity and confidence for women and service providers,” particularly when it comes to maintaining single-sex spaces based on biological sex.
The judgment has reignited long-standing discussions over the legal definition of “woman” and how it applies in practice. While Labour welcomed the court’s clarification, Ms Phillipson also used her statement to criticise the former Conservative government for what she described as years of demeaning treatment of the transgender community.
“This Government will offer trans people the dignity that too often they were denied by the party opposite,” she said. “Too often a convenient punch bag, too often the butt of jokes made – in this place – by the party opposite.”
She insisted that dignity, safety, and respect would underpin the Government’s approach going forward. “This is a Government that will support the rights of women and trans people, now and always,” she told MPs.
Ms Phillipson also reassured the House that trans people should not feel fearful or marginalised, emphasising the need for compassion in policymaking. She added that no individual should face discrimination, harassment or fear when accessing public services, including toilet facilities.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Labour of flip-flopping on the issue and claimed the Supreme Court judgment was a necessary corrective to Labour’s supposed lack of clarity.
“This is a U-turn – but we welcome it,” said Mrs Badenoch. “I know what a woman is and I always have. The people of this country know what a woman is. We didn’t need the Supreme Court to tell us that – but this Government did.”
She went on to accuse Labour of abandoning “common sense” and urged the Prime Minister and Ms Phillipson to apologise to Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who has previously raised concerns about trans issues and faced backlash within her own party.
Ms Phillipson dismissed the attack and responded that the Tories should “get offline and get on board.”
Labour MPs, meanwhile, voiced serious concerns about rising hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community. Dame Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, said calls to LGBT+ helplines had “skyrocketed”, and warned that trans people were growing increasingly afraid of public spaces.
“The overwhelming threat to women and to all of the trans community is the violence that we suffer from cis men,” she said.
Ms Phillipson acknowledged male violence as a pressing issue and reiterated that the ruling clarified the legal application of biological sex, but she stressed that no one should be left in fear.
Former minister Dame Meg Hillier also raised the case of a constituent who transitioned in the 1970s and had used women’s toilets for decades, questioning whether new legal interpretations would strip away her dignity.
More Read
Ms Phillipson confirmed that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) would be issuing updated guidance to help service providers accommodate everyone respectfully and lawfully.
She explained, “There must be dignity and respect for all, including appropriate provision for everyone, so no-one – especially trans people – feels unsafe when using public facilities.”
Labour MP Dawn Butler asked whether people would be expected to prove their birth sex to access certain spaces, and highlighted the difficulties faced by butch lesbians who are sometimes harassed for using women’s toilets.
In response, Ms Phillipson assured the House that discrimination against lesbians and other gender non-conforming people was unacceptable and must be addressed through inclusive facilities and respectful treatment.
As the debate continues, both political sides appear divided not only on how best to implement equality law but also on the tone and direction of public discourse around sex, gender, and identity in modern Britain.
