Lib Dems drop men from women’s quotas

Men who identify as women will no longer be allowed to serve as female representatives on internal committees, the Liberal Democrats have announced.

The party made the decision after taking legal advice on complying with the Supreme Court ruling that the definition of a woman is determined by biology not ideology for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.

The Liberal Democrats operate a quota policy, where a certain number of positions in committees must be allocated to women. It has also introduced some committee quotas for people who are LGBT+.

Compliant

A statement on the party website said the move was necessary “to make them compliant with the Equality Act 2010, in the context of the supreme court judgment”.

Welcoming the decision, a spokeswoman for its internal gender-critical group Liberal Voice for Women (LVW) said it was important to ensure “places expressly reserved for women do not go to male candidates”.

“Whilst we think there are some remaining issues with the quotas, the fact the party has changed these quotas – despite some strong opposition – cements the position that the Lib Dems accept April’s supreme court ruling.”

Lawfully protected

Earlier this year, the Liberal Democrats lifted their restrictions on the LVW following a legal challenge.

The group was blocked from exhibiting at the party’s conferences for the past four years and was not allowed to advertise in its conference brochure.

Chairwoman of LVW Zoe Hollowood said: “For too long, gender critical members have been vilified and censured in the party for their ordinary belief in the immutability and importance of sex.

Lib Dem Chief Executive Mike Dixon conceded: “The Liberal Democrats recognise that Liberal Voice for Women is entitled not to be discriminated against in respect of the lawfully held protected beliefs”.

Sex swaps

Recently, party leader Sir Ed Davey said: “The vast majority of people identify with the same gender they had at birth, but there are a few who do not.”

Maintaining his previously stated position on the issue, he continued: “For over 20 years we’ve had a Gender Recognition Act which said that people who want to change their gender can do so. And that’s been cross-party. I think this is a difficult issue.”

He added: “If you have a different view of your gender than your biological sex at birth, then the Act gives you that right. But the vast majority of people have the same gender as their biological sex.”