Lib Dems ‘betraying women’ by opposing single-sex spaces guidance

The Liberal Democrats have come under fire for calling on the Government to withdraw its guidance clarifying single-sex spaces.

Party leader Ed Davey wrote to the Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, criticising the long-awaited guidance for not being compatible with “British values”. The move has been criticised internally and externally for prioritising transgender ideology over women’s rights.

The new statutory guidance published last month has been updated to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling that ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex and not gender identity. It confirms that people should not be allowed to use facilities designated for the opposite sex, regardless of how they identify.

Bridget Phillipson, who received the draft Code from the EHRC in September last year, has now laid it before Parliament for a 40-day period. If unopposed, it will be enacted at the end of that period.

Liberal Democrats

Davey wrote: “We do not believe that the new code of practice is fit for purpose. It does not provide clear and workable guidance, and it does not do enough to protect everyone from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.”

Ignoring this reality is a betrayal to women everywhere

The letter continued: “We do not believe that this guidance is compatible with the long-standing British values we hold dear: tolerance, decency, respect for individual liberty and the rule of law.”

However, Dr Zoe Hollowood, Chair of the Lib Dems’ women’s rights group Liberal Voice for Women, said: “By focusing on trans inclusion, the Lib Dem leadership has actively chosen to ignore the vast majority of women who rely on single-sex spaces when they are vulnerable”. She added: “Ignoring this reality is a betrayal to women everywhere, including in our own party.”

Baroness Sarah Ludford, a Lib Dem member of the House of Lords, posted on X: “To say I am upset & bewildered that the leader of my party @EdwardJDavey – who last year said ‘we’ – the @libdems – ‘entirely accept’ the SC judgment – has now put his name to this nonsense is the understatement of the year. Totally contradictory.”

‘Rule of law’

David Campanale, who took the Lib Dems to court for religious discrimination, commented: “It is a stretch to say the party ‘holds dear’ values of ‘tolerance and decency’.

“Just weeks ago, the court sealed the Lib Dems admission of multiple breaches of the Equality Act 2010 in my successful claim for discrimination.”

KC David Wolfson explained on social media: “You can agree or disagree with the Sup Ct judgment (but the law must be followed). But to say you agree with the judgment, and then to attack the guidance is simply unprincipled.

“That’s not upholding the rule of law. It’s trying to secure your preferred outcome *despite* the law.”