The Liberal Democrats are facing renewed debate over trans rights as leader Sir Ed Davey expressed his support for a party conference vote aimed at revising protections for women-only spaces. Sir Ed indicated he would vote in favor of a motion to scrap what he described as 'discriminatory and unworkable' gender guidance recently issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). This guidance, effective from last month, mandates that access to single-sex facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, hospital wards, and refuges be determined by a person's birth sex, following a Supreme Court ruling in 2025.
A motion proposed by an LGBT Lib Dem activist seeks to overturn this guidance and replace it with a new code that aims to be inclusive and workable, ensuring safe access to public facilities while protecting providers from legal risks. However, some Lib Dem activists have cautioned that this vote could undermine women's rights to single-sex spaces.
When asked about his stance on the motion, Sir Ed stated on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, 'I do – I'll be voting for it if I'm in the hall.' He emphasized that the party is responding to feedback from businesses regarding the clarity and helpfulness of the existing guidance.
Dr. Zoe Hollowood, chair of the campaign group Liberal Voice for Women, criticized Sir Ed's support for the motion, suggesting it contradicts the party's commitment to uphold women's rights as outlined in their 2024 manifesto. She argued that the guidance is clear and that the real issue lies with organizations seeking loopholes to allow some males into female spaces.
The motion was introduced by Artie Khovanov, a Cambridge graduate and former Lib Dem council candidate, who has previously criticized the EHRC guidance as a 'constitutional outrage.' His proposal advocates for a cross-party review of how the law can better protect trans rights and calls for a new EHRC code on trans rights, along with a recommendation for the Women and Equalities Committee to have veto power over the appointment of the EHRC chair.