UK Labour Party to Bar Trans Women From 2026 Women’s Conference
The UK Labour Party has announced that transgender women will be excluded from full participation in its 2026 national Women’s Conference. The party’s governing body, the National Executive Committee, approved the decision following a legal review. Under the new rules, only biological women will be allowed to attend keynote speeches, participate in policy debates, vote on motions, and elect members to the national women’s committee. Trans women will still have access to exhibition areas, fringe-event gatherings, and evening receptions. The decision comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year which clarified that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, “sex” refers to biological sex rather than self-identified gender. The move has drawn sharp criticism from campaigners and former officials. Labour for Trans Rights described the exclusion as “terrible,” warning that many trans members who have long contributed to the party would now be shut out of key democratic processes. Baroness Falkner of Margravine, former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, condemned the decision as a retreat from the party’s historic commitment to women’s rights. Labour officials defended the move as a legal and practical necessity, intended to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court ruling and prevent potential legal challenges or internal divisions. As debate continues, questions remain about how the decision will affect the party’s internal dynamics and public image amid ongoing discussions on gender, rights, and representation across the UK.
| 2025-12-06 19:16:28