Transgender women prohibited from participating in key events at Labour Women's Conference

Trans women will be prohibited from participating in the main sessions of next years Labour Women's Conference. This decision follows a legal review prompted by an April Supreme Court ruling, which stated that under equality legislation, a woman is defined by biological sex.

While trans women will be excluded from official proceedings, including main hall speeches and policy debates, they will still be allowed to attend fringe events, which remain open to all attendees regardless of gender.

The party believes this approach offers a balance between legal compliance and broad accessibility. The conference, usually held the day before Labours annual conference, was cancelled in 2025 following legal advice after the Supreme Court decision. Before the ruling, the party permitted attendees to self-identify as women, allowing trans women to participate fully, including in all-women shortlists.

Labour conducted a thorough legal review of the conference rules after the court decision and confirmed that the 2026 event will proceed under revised participation guidelines. A party spokesperson stated, "This approach demonstrates our commitment to tackling the under-representation of women within the Party while ensuring compliance with the law."

The announcement comes amid ongoing government work to update guidance for public bodies and businesses under the Equality Act. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a revised code of practice for ministerial approval, and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson has emphasized taking the necessary time to ensure the guidance is accurate before its release.

Experts, including former EHRC head Baroness Falkner, have warned that delays have created ambiguity regarding single-sex spaces. The current EHRC leadership has also urged the government to finalize the guidance promptly.

Labours new rules follow similar changes by other organizations. The Womens Institute recently decided to exclude transgender women from membership, and UK Girlguiding announced that trans girls will no longer be allowed to join guide groups.

Author: Olivia Parker