The Labour Party has announced that transgender women will be excluded from the principal events of its national women's conference in 2026. This decision will prevent them from entering the main conference hall and from voting on policy matters.
A Legal Compromise After Supreme Court Ruling
This move, first reported by LabourList, forms part of Labour's effort to find a middle ground. The party aims to comply with a recent Supreme Court judgment on gender while attempting to maintain an inclusive environment. All delegates, including trans women, will be permitted to attend a separate fringe programme and an evening reception. However, they will be barred from voting on policy debates, motions, and elections for the national women's committee within the main hall.
The party cancelled its women's conference for 2024, which was scheduled to precede the annual conference in Liverpool last September. This postponement allowed time to await full guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) following the court's decision. The watchdog's interim advice suggested that voluntary organisations should apply a biological women-only rule for such events.
Mixed Reactions from Advocacy Groups
The decision has sparked strong reactions from groups on both sides of the debate. A spokesperson for the Labour for Trans Rights group labelled the move as "terrible" and called on the party's national executive committee to reconsider. They argued that trans members are being unjustly excluded from democratic processes after years of service to the party.
Conversely, a spokesperson for the gender-critical Labour Women's Declaration group welcomed the party's decision to "follow the law." They added that any single-sex or women-focused workshops should also be organised in strict accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
Broader Political Criticism and Government Stance
The controversy extends beyond internal party dynamics. Kishwer Falkner, the crossbench peer and former head of the human rights watchdog, has accused Labour of abandoning women on issues including gender rights. Lady Falkner told The Times that the party has lost touch with its fundamental values and can no longer claim to be the party of equality and feminism.
She also criticised the government for delaying the publication of statutory guidance after the Supreme Court's ruling, suggesting ministers were "terrified of their MPs" who favour broader trans self-identification. In response, a government spokesperson defended the careful approach, stating that issuing rushed and flawed guidance would be "utterly catastrophic and fail women across our country."
A Labour Party spokesperson concluded: "National women's conference will be held in 2026 after a comprehensive legal review. This reflects our commitment to addressing the underrepresentation of women in the party and compliance with the law."
