Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing internal dissent and public criticism after clarifying that he no longer believes trans women are women – a reversal from his 2022 position, as reported by The Times.
Downing Street confirmed the shift following last week’s landmark Supreme Court ruling that reinforced protections for single-sex spaces based on biological sex.
In the ruling’s wake, Starmer expressed support, calling it “a step forward” and welcomed the clarity it offers for institutions drafting guidance. “A woman is an adult female, and the court has made that absolutely clear,” he told reporters. However, in a 2022 interview with The Times, Starmer had previously stated: “A woman is a female adult, and in addition to that trans women are women, and that is not just my view — that is actually the law.”
When asked this week whether the Prime Minister still believed trans women are women, his spokesperson replied simply: “No.”
This perceived reversal has ignited strong reactions. Conservative equalities minister Kemi Badenoch also condemned Labour’s updated stance, calling it “a shameless work of fiction” and a desperate attempt to regain credibility.
In a session of the Commons, Labour MPs voiced concerns that the new position could further marginalise trans people. Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson attempted to balance the message, stating the government would “protect single-sex spaces based on biological sex” while also standing by the rights of trans people “with compassion.”
Phillipson also announced that mixed-sex hospital wards would be phased out, and reiterated protections for women-only spaces in prisons and sports.
Labour MPs like Dame Emily Thornberry and Nadia Whittome challenged the Prime Minister’s shift. Thornberry cited a surge in calls to LGBT helplines from trans people fearing for their safety, while Whittome warned of the confusion the ruling could create around access to public toilets. She insisted there was “nothing in law” that prevents trans people from using facilities matching their gender identity.
MP Dawn Butler described incidents where her butch lesbian friends were asked to leave women’s toilets, arguing that the new approach risked similar treatment for gender non-conforming people.
Olivia Blake and Maya Ellis added their voices, stressing the need for clarity to ensure the ruling isn’t used to undermine trans people’s dignity. Ellis described the ongoing political debate as “exhausting” for the trans community.
Not all Labour MPs were critical. Some supported the legal challenge brought by the group For Women Scotland, which contested the Scottish Government’s use of gender identity in setting targets for company boards. Tracy Gilbert praised the group’s efforts, saying they represented women who had faced discrimination for standing by sex-based rights.
Tonia Antoniazzi spoke out against what she described as pressure from trans advocacy groups and criticised some charities working with gender-questioning children.
Pro-trans protests in Westminster, where violent slogans were displayed, were also condemned. Phillipson denounced the placards as “vile” and “completely counterproductive” to the cause.
