Labour activists are openly defying a Supreme Court ruling that defines ‘woman’ as a biological category under UK equality law—reigniting internal party tensions over sex and gender.
This is despite PM Keir Starmer publicly accepting the ruling and the ‘clarity’ that comes with it. Back in April 2025, it was already apparent that some of his MPs—including ministers—had started plotting to overturn the judgement.
A work and pensions minister, Andrew Western, advised a constituent that the case was “completely unnecessary” causing “fear and distress,” while Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury stated his “clear” belief
that trans women are women and that trans men are men.
He reportedly went further, saying that—contrary to the Supreme Court’s stance—he does not believe it is morally right to exclude trans people from single-sex spaces that match their gender identity.
These positions have alarmed the Labour Women’s Declaration group, which advocates for sex-based rights. A spokeswoman said
Of particular concern are the number of MPs and peers who are openly saying that the rights of trans people are under threat. This not only calls into question the legitimacy of the Supreme Court judgment which explicitly states the ruling ‘does not remove protection from trans people’, it actively fuels fear within the very community they claim to support.
Supporters of women’s single-sex spaces are likely to be alarmed by this renewed campaign from Labour MPs, especially given Starmer’s inconsistent stance on the issue. In 2022, he declared that “trans women are women,” but later criticised his own MP, Rosie Duffield, for stating that only women have cervixes.
