Conservative Councils lead the way on ensuring compliance with Supreme Court Ruling to protect women and girls

Today, [Thursday 16 April], on the one-year anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court judgment confirming that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex, the Conservative Party has announced that Conservative-run councils will lead the way by publishing clear, legally compliant policies on single-sex spaces and services.

Our plan will ensure that council services, including those delivered by organisations in receipt of council funding, are fully aligned with the law as clarified by the Supreme Court in the For Women Scotland case.

Despite the clarity of the ruling, too many public bodies have failed to act. Councils, NHS organisations, regulators and charities continue to operate policies based on self-identification, creating confusion, exposing organisations to legal risk, and undermining the rights of women and girls.

This announcement comes as Bridget Phillipson continues to delay publication of guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, stating it will not be released until after the local elections. In the absence of her leadership, Conservatives are setting out a clear plan to uphold the law and protect single-sex spaces.

Conservative councils will publish clear, legally compliant single-sex policies and will cut funding from service providers that fail to protect single-sex spaces. Under our plan:

• Conservative-run councils will publish their own single-sex policies.
• Funding and contracts will be withdrawn from providers that do not comply with the law.

This approach will ensure that all services funded by councils operate in line with the Equality Act and uphold the rights of women and girls.

The Conservatives will also strengthen enforcement, ensuring regulators act where organisations fail to uphold the law, and that individuals have a clear basis to bring claims.

Councils play a central role in delivering services where privacy, dignity and safety are essential from leisure centres and refuges to social care and public facilities. Because of the Government's dither and delay the Conservatives will take action to ensure that these essential local services operate in line with the law and protect women and girls.

Kemi Badenoch MP, Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, said:

“A year after the Supreme Court's clear ruling, too many public bodies are acting as if the law is optional because Labour has failed to lead.

“Conservative councils are not waiting. We will publish clear policies and withdraw funding from organisations that do not protect single-sex spaces.

“The law is not optional - it must be enforced. Only the Conservatives are serious about protecting women and girls.”

Claire Coutinho MP, Shadow Equalities Minister, said:

“If Bridget Phillipson won't act to protect women and girls, we will.

"Councils run and commission vital services, from care homes to leisure centres, the very places where privacy, dignity and safety must be guaranteed.

"Women and girls across the country deserve better than government dither and delay. Conservative councils elected in May will act immediately where organisations and contractors fail to uphold the law. Only the Conservatives are serious about standing up for single-sex spaces and protecting women and girls”

Ben Houchen, Mayor of the Tees Valley, said:

“The very fact that the Darlington nurses were forced to take a stand just to defend something as basic as access to single sex spaces is insanity. Instead of backing common sense, public bodies chose to waste huge amounts of taxpayer cash defending the indefensible. 

“Their win was a clear victory for dignity, for privacy, and for the obvious common sense that is missing in so many of our public bodies.

"Now the law is clear, there can be no more excuses. Local authorities across the country now need to follow the law, and make sure protections for single sex spaces are guaranteed - no ifs or buts.”

Marion Calder, Founder of For Women Scotland, said:

“This is a welcome step. More than a year on from the Supreme Court ruling, far too many public bodies are still failing to comply.

"Women and girls deserve to feel safe when accessing services so it is welcome Conservative-led councils across the country will lead the way in protecting their rights while the Government continues to dither.

"We would encourage all councils to follow suit and ensure that Women and Girls are protected."

Bethany Hutchison, Darlington Nurse, President of the Darlington Union, said:

“Frontline nurses are already suffering the consequences of unclear and inconsistent policies, and more will suffer if decisive action isn't taken.

“The For Women Scotland Supreme Court ruling made the law unambiguous, and it is welcome that Conservative‑run councils are taking the lead. Every other local authority should comply with it in full.

“The Darlington nurses have lived through the confusion and intimidation that arise when single‑sex protections are ignored or misapplied. No nurse should be pressured, dismissed, or left vulnerable simply for raising safeguarding concerns. Councils must act now to ensure that lawful single‑sex spaces are properly upheld, so that staff and patients alike can feel safe, respected, and supported.”