Workers have decided to cancel the National Women’s Conference while they await comprehensive guidance from the Equality Watchdog. This move has prompted criticism from significant advocates for trans rights and gender issues.
The National Executive Committee (NEC), which governs the party, is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to endorse plans to scrap the women’s meeting slated for September, just before the party’s annual gathering in Liverpool.
The Equality and Human Rights Committee recently issued temporary advice following a Supreme Court ruling stating that “woman” in the Equality Act pertains solely to biological women.
It seems the NEC felt they could expose the party to legal risks by proceeding with the meeting. Reports suggest that if they were to continue based on self-identification, it could incite protests or direct action.
The guidance provided to the NEC indicates that “all positive action measures related to women in party rules must be interpreted according to biological sex at birth.” Further clarification will be given to all party units and relevant stakeholders.
The party aims to work sensitively with individuals and local organizations affected by the ruling, recognizing its significant impact on many.
A gender-critical group called Working Women declared the meeting canceled, arguing it was inaccurate to describe the action as a “knee jerk reaction” or a “baked Cen style.” This conference is intended as a platform for policy-making on women’s issues.
They conveyed their concern, stating, “It would be very unfortunate if a party aspiring to be a serious political force fails to muster the courage to conduct this meeting properly within the existing laws.” They emphasized that “women deserve more.”
Cancelling the event could incur significant costs, as NEC documents indicate there are immediate contractual obligations linked to services for the event.
Groups including LGBT+ Labour, trans rights activists, and Labour Pride released a joint statement criticizing the changes and urging NEC members to oppose them.
The statement remarked, “The Labour Party must set an example and align itself with the right side of history,” adding that this proposal “fails to effectively address the issues.” They also questioned whether excluding trans women from the Women’s Conference was a proportional response to achieve legitimate goals. The repeated emphasis on trans issues in meetings seemed to diminish their presence in discussions, creating a clear violation of trans rights and attempting to widen divisions within the Labour movement.
Georgia Meadows, trans officer at LGBT Labour, expressed concern, stating, “Trans people are often underestimated in British politics, and this decision by the NEC further hinders trans people’s involvement in the democratic process, especially at a time when the community is under significant threat.”
Labour sources indicated that the party plans to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling and will adhere to statutory guidance once it is released. The Minister will take the EHRC code of practice into account when submitting the draft.
