Trans women will not be allowed to attend main Labour Women's Conference events

"Trans women will not be able to take part in formal proceedings, including speeches in the main hall and policy debates but will be able to attend fringe events, which will be open to everyone regardless of their sex. It is understood the party considers the format to be the least restrictive way of balancing accessibility and compliance with the law."

"The Women's Conference, which is usually held the day before the party's annual conference in the same venue, was cancelled in 2025 after the party received legal advice in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling. Prior to that ruling, Labour had allowed people to self-identify as a woman, so trans women could attend the event and also take part in "positive action" measures such as all-women shortlists."

"It comes as the government continues to weigh a new code of practice in light of the ruling, guidance which issued to public bodies and businesses on how to apply the Equality Act. The code has been redrafted by the equality watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and submitted to the government for ministerial sign off before coming into force."

Trans women will be excluded from formal proceedings at Labour's Women's Conference, including speeches in the main hall and policy debates. Trans women will be able to attend fringe events, open to everyone regardless of sex. The Women's Conference will proceed under new attendance rules after the 2025 event was cancelled following legal advice and a Supreme Court ruling that defines a woman by biological sex. Prior to the ruling, people could self-identify as women and participate in positive action measures such as all-women shortlists. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has redrafted a code of practice for the Equality Act and submitted it to the government for ministerial sign-off.

Read at www.bbc.com